LEADER OF THE HOUSE

Oral Statements

David Davies: To ask the Leader of the House what recent assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the procedures for oral statements by Ministers.

Helen Goodman: Oral statements are one of the most valued and effective parts of the House's proceedings. The Government have no plans to propose any changes to present procedures, though we are always open to representations from hon. Members on this as on other matters.

Voting Rights

Angela Watkinson: To ask the Leader of the House what the Government's policy is on the right of right hon. and hon. Members representing Scottish constituencies to vote on matters relating to England where responsibility for such matters in Scotland has been devolved to the Scottish Executive.

Helen Goodman: The Prime Minister has previously set out the Government's policy to the House on the 3 July. This Government do not accept that there should be any discrimination in the rights of hon. Members to take part in the business before the House. 'English votes for English laws' would lead to the break up of the Union. This Government believes in the Union and will do nothing to harm it. Constitutional issues are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Justice Secretary.

Departmental Manpower

Theresa May: To ask the Leader of the House how many  (a) men and  (b) women of each Civil Service grade are employed by her Office.

Harriet Harman: The following table gives information for people currently working in my office who are employed by the Cabinet Office.
	
		
			  Grade  Female  Male 
			 ScS 0 1 
			 Special Adviser 2 0 
			 A 0 2 
			 B 2 3 
			 C 1 4 
		
	
	In addition there are four members of staff who are either on loan or paid for by the Department of Work and Pensions to support me in my duties as Minister for Women and Equalities.
	
		
			  Grade  Female  Male 
			 ScS 0 0 
			 Special Adviser 0 0 
			 A 1 0 
			 B 1 0 
			 C 0 2

Departmental Meetings

Mark Hoban: To ask the Leader of the House what the  (a) date,  (b) location and  (c) purpose was of each meeting she attended with the Prime Minister in (i) the week commencing 19 November and (ii) the week commencing 26 November.

Harriet Harman: I have regular meetings with the Prime Minister.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

Rape

Katy Clark: To ask the Solicitor-General what steps she is taking to increase conviction rates for rape.

Vera Baird: The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) now monitors all rape cases to ensure consistent good practice. The CPS works with the voluntary and community sector and the police to improve the service to victims and to build stronger cases. A cross government group is overseeing performance to address local variations in investigation and prosecution.

Anti-trafficking Legislation

Peter Bone: To ask the Solicitor-General what assessment she has made of the effect of the UK's anti-trafficking legislation on the ability of the Crown Prosecution Service successfully to prosecute trafficking offences.

Vera Baird: I am satisfied that our human trafficking legislation is as effective as possible to ensure the Crown Prosecution Service is able to prosecute successfully those who commit such offences. In addition the Crown Prosecution Service is tasked with keeping under review the anti-trafficking legislation under the UK Action Plan on Trafficking.

"Undercover Mosque"

Evan Harris: To ask the Solicitor-General what discussions she has had with the Crown Prosecution Service over the decision of the west midlands Crown Prosecution Service and West Midlands Police to refer the programme "Undercover Mosque" to Ofcom; and if she will make a statement.

Vera Baird: The matter was referred to Ofcom by West Midlands Police and not the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). There were no discussions about the issue between my office and the CPS.

Criminal Justice Targets

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Solicitor-General what progress has been made towards those elements of the Government's criminal justice system targets for which she has responsibility; and if she will make a statement.

Vera Baird: I have responsibility for the persistent young offender and victims and witnesses criminal justice targets. The PYO pledge was to halve the average time from arrest to sentence for persistent young offenders from 142 days to 71 days. The average time for the quarter to September 2007 was 62 days. In the year to June 2007, in 59.7 per cent. cases, victims and witnesses were satisfied with the handling of matters by the police and other criminal justice agencies. This is on course to meet the 60.1 per cent. target by the end of March 2008.

Trans-national Bribery

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Solicitor-General how many cases of trans-national bribery are under investigation by the Serious Fraud Office.

Vera Baird: The Serious Fraud Office is currently investigating 11 cases where there are allegations of trans-national bribery, as well as fraud.
	It is not possible for operational reasons to give specific details on these cases but they include an investigation into Energy Financing Team Ltd in Bosnia, an investigation into Kellog Brown and Root in connection with Nigeria and a number of other countries, an investigation into the construction of the Unesco-financed Bibliotecha Alexandria in Egypt and an investigation into reinsurance involving the National Insurance Institute in Costa Rica.
	A number of other cases are also currently being considered for investigation in the vetting process.

CHURCH COMMISSIONERS

Church Appointments

Simon Hughes: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners what representations the Church Commissioners have received on the Prime Minister's proposal to change the role that Ministers and civil servants play in relation to some Church appointments.

Stuart Bell: Following the Government's Green Paper, the archbishops issued a consultation paper on Crown appointments in the Church in October. In light of the views expressed in the consultation period, which ended on 7 December, the archbishops will shortly decide what proposals to put to General Synod in February.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Crime: Internet

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions she has had with  (a) the police and  (b) Ministerial colleagues on the establishment of a police central e-crime unit.

Vernon Coaker: I have regular meetings with the police and ministerial colleagues on a range of issues, including fraud and e-crime.
	On 17 October 2007, my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer (Mr. Darling), announced that funding would be made available through the comprehensive spending review for the establishment of a National Fraud Reporting Centre.
	The Home Office is currently considering proposals to improve the handling of e-crime.

Domestic Violence

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps the Government have taken to protect people from domestic violence, since 1997.

Vernon Coaker: holding answer 4 December 2007
	Since 1997, the Government have been working to: increase the early identification of (and intervention with) victims of domestic violence; ensure that effective advice and support is provided to victims of domestic violence; improve the criminal justice response to domestic violence; and to manage perpetrators to reduce risk.
	These aims have been underpinned by the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004 and an annual cross-Government National Delivery Plan for Domestic Violence (since 2005) to progress this work both nationally and locally.
	The following table sets out some of the key steps that the Government have taken to tackle domestic violence. Main themes have included:
	(i) strengthening the criminal justice response to domestic violence through the development and expansion of Specialist Domestic Violence Courts to 64 systems in England and Wales, ensuring that domestic violence coordinators are located in every police force, probation and Crown Prosecution Service area, and rolling out perpetrator programmes to all probation areas; and
	(ii) improving the safety of identified high risk victims of domestic violence through the development of Independent Domestic Violence Adviser services and Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conferences, with over 100 areas currently supported.
	This work has had a significant impact: according to the British Crime Survey the prevalence of domestic violence has fallen by 59 per cent. between 1995 and 2006-07.
	
		
			  Summary of steps the Government have undertaken to protect people from domestic violence since 1997 
			   Key steps 
			 1999 Women Ministers launch 'Living Without Fear', a national strategic approach to violence against women 
			 2002 Order made under Housing Act 1996 to extend priority need for accommodation to people vulnerable because they have fled their home because of violence 
			 2002 Rape Action Plan published 
			 2003 Home Office launch Safety and Justice Consultation Paper 
			 2003 Launch of 24 hour National Domestic Violence free phone helpline, run in partnership between Women's Aid and Refuge 
			 2003 Female Genital Mutilation Act 2003 
			 2003 Sexual Offences Act 2003 
			 2003-04 Development of 14 Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs) 
			 2003-06 Gender equality public service agreement (PSA) to include domestic violence measure 
			 2004 National awareness raising campaign launched for domestic violence 
			 2004 Domestic Violence, Crime & Victims Act 2004 
			 2004 United Nations Resolution on Honour Killings, jointly presented by UK and Turkey 
			 2004 Costs of domestic violence research published 
			 2005 March is named National Domestic Violence Month 
			 2005 Official launch of Forced Marriage Unit 
			 2005 National Report and National Delivery Plan launched 
			 2005 Launch of Corporate Alliance Against Domestic Violence 
			 2005 Domestic Abuse Strategy for Wales launched 
			 2005 Development of Northern Ireland 24 hour free phone Domestic Violence Helpline, open to anyone affected by domestic violence 
			 2005-06 25 Specialist Domestic Violence Courts announced to be established and operating by the end of 2005-06 
			 2005-06 100 Independent Domestic Violence Advisors trained; 70 trained in 2006-07 
			 2005 'Tackling Violence At Home' strategy for domestic violence and abuse launched in Northern Ireland 
			 2006 Over 400 refuges in the UK 
			 2005-06 Consultation on creation of specific offence of forced marriage; responses have been published 
			 2006-08 Gender Equality PSA to include domestic violence measure 
			 2006-07 First national conference for Domestic Violence Co-ordinators held 
			 2006-07 Progress Report on National Delivery Plan published 
			 2006-07 Homicide Review guidance published for consultation 
			 2006/07 Publication of health professionals' domestic violence handbook 
			 2006-07 Development and funding of more Sexual Assault Referral Centres 
			 2006-07 Funding of Independent Domestic Violence Advisors and Independent Sexual Violence Advisors 
			 2006-07 Selection of further Specialist Domestic Violence Court systems, bringing total supported by national Programme to 64 
			 2006 Northern Ireland join the Corporate Alliance Against Domestic Violence 
			 2006 Publication and distribution of workplace Guidance on Domestic Violence to Northern Ireland employers 
			 2006 Public Prosecution Service for Northern Ireland (PPS) launch its policy on prosecution of cases of domestic violence 
			 2006-07 Pilot MARAC in the Antrim area, Northern Ireland, continuing following evaluation 
			 2007-08 Support given to over 100 areas to enable the MARAC model to be rolled out 
			 2007-08 Pilot of sanctuary scheme in the Ballymena/ Antrim area, Northern Ireland

Genetics: Databases

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people whose DNA is held on the national database that have committed no offence are  (a) male and  (b) female; and if she will make a statement.

Meg Hillier: On 31 October 2007, there were an estimated 4,188,033 individuals with a DNA profile retained on the National DNA Database (NDNAD). This includes approximately 22,700 persons who had provided a DNA profile voluntarily. Of the 4.18 million persons, 3,938,156 persons were sampled by police forces in England and Wales. These figures were obtained from the NDNAD.
	Data on arrest and criminal histories are not held on the NDNAD, but are held on the Police National Computer (PNC). Such data are not available routinely at present, but the National Policing Improvement Agency which has responsibility for the delivery of NDNAD services is working towards being able to provide such data regularly from the NDNAD and PNC.
	Data obtained from the PNC on 31 October indicate that 3,637,163 (of the 3,938,156) persons had a record retained on PNC. Of these, 3,117,942 persons had a conviction, caution, formal warning or reprimand(1) recorded on the PNC (79 per cent. of persons on the NDNAD sampled by forces in England and Wales); and 519,221 persons (13 per cent. of persons on the NDNAD sampled by forces in England and Wales) had no current conviction, caution, formal warning or reprimand recorded on PNC. The latter figure comprises some persons who may have had a caution or conviction record removed from PNC after five to 10 years in accordance with the Rules for Criminal Record Weeding (which applied prior to April 2006); persons who have been charged and acquitted or proceedings discontinued; persons who have been charged with a recordable offence and proceedings are ongoing; and persons who have been arrested but no further action was taken against them. The PNC records for the other 300,993 persons (8 per cent. of persons on the NDNAD) had been removed from the PNC for various reasons, for example, their conviction and caution records had been weeded after five-10 years, the person had been acquitted or proceedings were discontinued. No breakdown is available of the number of males and females who have a profile on the NDNAD but who have not been convicted, cautioned etc. These data could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	(1) Cautions, final warnings and reprimands are sanctions administered to a person who admits to having committed a criminal offence which could have led to prosecution.

Passports

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of passports were renewed more than a year before the expiry date in the latest period for which figures are available.

Meg Hillier: This question can only be answered in relation to adult renewal passports, the required data for child renewal passports is not currently available.
	For all adult passports renewed during the 2006 calendar year a proportion of 3.1 per cent. were renewed more than 12 months prior to expiry.

Prosecutions: Licensing

John Cummings: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) prosecutions and  (b) convictions there were in Easington constituency for the illegal sale of alcohol from off licence premises in each year since 2000.

Vernon Coaker: Data on prosecutions and convictions held by the Ministry of Justice are not broken down by constituency area. The data show that no prosecutions took place in Easington local criminal justice area or North Durham (which Easington was amalgamated into in 2002), for the illegal sale of alcohol in off-licence premises from 2000-06.

INNOVATION, UNIVERSITIES AND SKILLS

Apprentices

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what estimate his Department has made of the number of  (a) apprenticeships,  (b) level two apprenticeships and  (c) advanced apprenticeships there are likely to be in 2010-11, broken down by age group (i) 16 to 18, (ii) 19 to 25 and (iii) over 25-year-olds.

David Lammy: Planned apprenticeship volumes by academic year to 2010/11 were published in the Learning and Skills Council's Statement of Priorities on 16 November 2007, available at http://readingroom.lsc.gov.uk/lsc/National /nat-statementofpriorities-nov07.pdf. The breakdown is available by 16 to 18 and 19+ only, and not by level.

Departmental Data Protection

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many employees of each grade in his Department  (a) have access to confidential or sensitive data and  (b) are authorised to download such data to disk; how many of his Department's employees have undergone data protection training in the last 12 months; what the average length of time is that each employee of (i) his Department and (ii) his Department's agencies has spent on data protection training; how many investigations of employees of his Department for improperly accessing confidential information have taken place in the last 12 months; how many such investigations resulted in cases of disciplinary action; and what the circumstances of each of those cases were.

David Lammy: I refer the hon. Member to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 21 November 2007,  Official Report, column 1179. The review by the Cabinet Secretary and security experts is looking at procedures within Departments and agencies for the storage and use of data. A statement on Departments' procedures will be made on completion of the review.

Departmental ICT

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills which manufacturers' software is used in his Department.

David Lammy: The Department currently shares software with the Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform and the Department for Children, Schools and Families. The following list provides the names of manufacturers providing software applications to Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform.
	1E
	ActiveState Software Inc
	ActiveXperts Software BV
	Acuity Risk Management LLP
	Acuma Software Limited
	Adobe Systems
	Agresso Limited
	Art Technology Group Inc.
	Aventail
	BEA Systems Inc.
	Business Objects
	CASE Technologies
	Check Point Software Technologies Limited
	Cisco Systems Inc.
	Citrix Systems Inc.
	Clearswift Limited
	CommVault
	CA
	Dell Inc.
	Diskeeper Corporation
	Double-Take Software
	EMC Corporation
	Environmental Systems Research Institute Inc.
	EVault
	Ixia
	INPHASE Software Limited
	Intel Corporation Intercede Limited
	Internet Security Systems Inc.
	JAM Software
	JZero Solutions
	Kainos Software Limited
	Mantix Systems Limited
	McAfee Inc.
	MEGA
	Meridio
	Microsoft Corporation
	MidlandHR
	Network Appliance Inc.
	PTM EDV-Systeme GmbH
	QAS Limited
	QLogic Corporation
	Qube Global Software
	Quest Software Inc.
	RealVNC Limited
	Research In Motion Limited
	RSA Security Inc.
	SafeNet Inc.
	Semio
	Sherpa Software
	Softerra Limited
	Sophos Plc
	Source Code Technology Holdings Inc.
	SPSS Inc.
	Sun Microsystems Inc.
	Symantec Corporation
	TANDBERG
	Telelogic AB
	Trend Micro
	VMWare Inc.
	Websense Inc.
	WinZip International LLC

Departmental Procurement

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills whether the standard terms and conditions of purchase used by his Department in procurement of goods and services from the private sector prohibits the assignment of debt.

David Lammy: The Department's standard terms and conditions for the purchase of goods and services do not specifically mention the prohibition of the assignment of debt. They do include a clause stating that the benefit and burden of the contract may not be assigned or sub-contracted in whole or in part by the contractor without the prior written consent of the Department.

WALES

Departmental Manpower

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many  (a) men and  (b) women of each Civil Service grade are employed by his Department.

Peter Hain: The Wales Office published the numbers of staff by grade in its departmental annual report, which is available online at www.walesoffice.gov.uk or in the House Library.
	Figures for the number of women in each grade are also provided.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Arts: Finance

Daniel Rogerson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what his Department's public service agreement targets are for arts inclusion following the comprehensive spending review settlement.

James Purnell: HM Treasury announced in the comprehensive spending review that from April 2008 there would be 30 public service agreements (PSAs) setting out priority outcomes for the Government as a whole. The percentage of people who participate in culture and sport is one of the indicators for PSA21: Build more cohesive, empowered and active communities.
	My Department has also published its new Departmental Strategic Objectives (DSO), the first of which is Opportunity: encourage more widespread enjoyment of culture, media and sport. Detailed indicators for this DSO are currently being developed and will be published in due course.

Christmas

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether it is his Department's policy to use  (a) incandescent light bulbs and  (b) LED lights for festive decorations on departmental premises.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Department currently uses incandescent light bulbs for festive decorations on three Christmas trees inside its buildings. However in line with the Department's policy to use energy efficient light fittings, we will purchase LED lights when we need to replace them.
	The Department does not have any external festive decorations.

Sports: Schools

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps his Department are taking to encourage school students to participate in competitive sport.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Increasing inter and intra-school sporting opportunities is a key component of the National School Sport Strategy, which is delivered jointly by the Department for Children, Schools and Families and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
	The 2006-07 School Sport Survey showed that:
	98 per cent. of schools held a competitive sports day,
	58 per cent. of pupils were involved in intra-school competition, and
	35 per cent. of all pupils were involved in inter-school competition.
	Earlier this year, the Prime Minister announced extra funding to extend the number of Competition Managers to at least 225 by the beginning of 2009. Competition Managers will work with Governing Bodies and School Sport Associations to create a stronger framework for competitive sport and increase the amount of competitive sport in primary and secondary schools.
	As part of this work, our Secretary of State has chaired two summits with Governing Bodies and School Sport Associations to discuss the development of world class junior competition frameworks in their sports.
	In addition, we are introducing a new National School Sport Week, championed by Dame Kelly Holmes, to encourage all schools to run sports days and tournaments. This will build on the success of the UK School Games and its impact on motivating young people to take part in competitive sport.

OLYMPICS

Departmental Foreign Workers

David Simpson: To ask the Minister for the Olympics how many  (a) EU foreign nationals and  (b) non-EU foreign nationals are employed by her Office.

Tessa Jowell: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary for the Cabinet Office (Gillian Merron) on 28 November 2007,  Official Report, column 442W.

Olympic Delivery Authority: Carbon Emissions

John Gummer: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what discussions she has had with the Olympic Delivery Authority on reducing the carbon footprint of the 2012 Olympic Games.

Tessa Jowell: On 26 November, the Olympic Board, on behalf of the ODA and other Olympic partners, launched the London 2012 Sustainability Plan—Towards a One Planet 2012, which confirmed our commitment to minimise carbon emissions for the 2012 Games including the creation of a new decentralised energy supply infrastructure; designing buildings and parkland to minimise energy use; procurement of low carbon vehicles for the official fleet; and maximising the use of public transport to reach venues.
	The ODA also set out their specific proposals on minimising carbon emissions as part of their detailed Sustainable Development Strategy published in January 2007.

Olympic Delivery Authority: Carbon Emissions

John Gummer: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what the difference is in the carbon footprint of the original plans for portable facilities for the Olympic Games and the proposed single permanent venue at ExCel.

Tessa Jowell: Decisions on temporary and portable facilities for the 2012 Games have yet to be finalised. As part of the decision-making process there will be a detailed analysis of the carbon footprint of the options.
	On 26 November, the Olympic Board launched the London 2012 Sustainability Plan—Towards a One Planet 2012, which confirmed our commitment to minimise carbon emissions for the 2012 Games.

Olympic Games 2012: Finance

Boris Johnson: To ask the Minister for the Olympics if she will place in the Library copies of all monthly financial updates against the respective budgets of the  (a) London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and  (b) Olympic Delivery Authority.

Tessa Jowell: As announced on 10 December, I will provide a detailed account of progress across the Olympic programme when the first Olympic annual report is produced in the new year. Following this, I will make further reports to Parliament on a six monthly basis.
	The Olympic Board will receive monthly updates.

ELECTORAL COMMISSION COMMITTEE

Elections

Eric Pickles: To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission how many performance indicators the Electoral Commission plans to set for local authorities.

Peter Viggers: The Electoral Commission informs me that it is currently developing a performance standards framework for Electoral Registration Officers, Returning Officers and Referendum Counting Officers, arising from the powers given to it under section 67 of the Electoral Administration Act 2006.
	Although the Commission has yet to determine the final number of performance indicators, it aims to ensure that the performance framework is focused and proportionate, and does not represent an unjustified burden. The Commission is currently consulting with stakeholders and expects to publish the final performance standards by the end of 2008.

Electoral Register

Eric Pickles: To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission what research the Commission has commissioned from NOP into electoral registration; and what the cost was of such research.

Peter Viggers: The Electoral Commission informs me that GfK NOP Ltd. was commissioned to conduct research into the "Completeness and accuracy of the electoral registers in Greater London". The project was carried out between April and September 2007 and cost £78,796 +VAT. The findings of the project were published in October 2007 on the Commission's website at:
	www.electoralcommission.org.uk
	In addition, NOP was commissioned in 2007 to conduct two public opinion research projects into the general experience of voting in Wales and Scotland, only a small component of which concerned voter registration. The combined cost was £52,357 + VAT.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Demonstrations: Belfast

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps have been taken by the Parades Commission in relation to offensive and blasphemous placards displayed at the Gay Pride march in Belfast in August.

Paul Goggins: I have been advised by the Parades Commission that it has written to the parade organiser in relation to alleged breaches of its code of conduct at the Belfast Pride parade on 4 August 2007, and has sought a meeting to discuss the matter further.
	The Commission is committed to use all of the information at its disposal, including reports from police, participants, authorised officers and monitors, to inform its review of any such parade in the future.

Departmental Manpower

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many  (a) men and  (b) women of each Civil Service grade are employed by his Department.

Shaun Woodward: As at 6 December 2007, the gender breakdown within the Northern Ireland Office is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Grade  Male  Female  Total 
			 SCS 32 18 50 
			 A 111 91 202 
			 Bl 130 150 280 
			 B2 132 134 266 
			 C 144 328 472 
			 Dl 140 460 600 
			 D2 134 147 281 
			 Industrial 12 19 31 
			2,182

Police Service of Northern Ireland: Secondment

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many members of police forces in Great Britain were  (a) seconded and  (b) transferred to the Police Service of Northern Ireland in each year since 2005, broken down by (i) rank and (ii) sex.

Paul Goggins: I am advised by PSNI that, as of 5 December, the following tables show the number of members of police forces in Great Britain who have been seconded or transferred to PSNI in each year since 2005.
	
		
			  (a) Secondments 
			   Rank  Number 
			 2005 Superintendent 1 
			 2006 Superintendent 2 
			  Chief Inspector 2 
			 2007 Superintendent 1 
			  Chief Inspector 2 
			  Inspector 1 
			  Sergeant 3 
			  Constable 7 
			  Student Officer 1 
		
	
	
		
			   Gender  Number 
			 2005 Male 1 
			 2006 Male 3 
			  Female 1 
			 2007 Male 10 
			  Female 5 
		
	
	
		
			  (b) Transfers 
			   Rank  Number 
			 2005 Superintendent 1 
			  Chief Inspector 3 
			  Inspector 1 
			  Sergeant 2 
			 2006 Assistant Chief Constable 1 
			  Chief Superintendent 1 
			  Inspector 4 
			  Sergeant 12 
			  Constable 3 
			 2007 Inspector 6 
			  Sergeant 8 
			  Constable 2 
		
	
	
		
			   Gender  Number 
			 2005 Male 5 
			  Female 2 
			 2006 Male 20 
			  Female 1 
			 2007 Male 12 
			  Female 4

Prisoners: Literacy

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the assessed level of numeracy and literacy rates were amongst prisoners in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years.

Paul Goggins: The following tables provide a breakdown of the assessed levels of numeracy and literacy rates among prisoners in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years. The figures are for each of the financial years listed and for the current year up to November 30. It is expected that literacy and numeracy assessments for the full year 2007-08 will reach approximately 1,400.
	
		
			  Numeracy 
			   Total number of assessments  Below entry level  Entry Level 1  Entry Level 2  Entry Level 3  Level 1 + above 
			 April 2003 to March 2004 1,403 85 130 317 509 362 
			 April 2004 to March 2005 1,423 110 118 331 475 389 
			 April 2005 to March 2006 1,486 112 131 352 513 378 
			 April 2006 to March 2007 1,512 118 73 273 588 460 
			 April 2007 to 20 November 2007 828 79 37 177 301 234 
		
	
	
		
			  Literacy 
			   Total number  of assessments  Below entry level  Entry Level 1  Entry Level 2  Entry Level 3  Level 1 + above 
			 April 2003 to March 2004 1,404 57 65 237 581 464 
			 April 2003 to March 2004 1,421 76 97 236 523 489 
			 April 2003 to March 2004 1,480 90 75 235 590 490 
			 April 2006 to March 2007 1,508 116 49 202 621 520 
			 April 2007 to 20 November 2007 833 77 29 115 329 283

BUSINESS, ENTERPRISE AND REGULATORY REFORM

Construction: Skilled Workers

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what estimate he has made of the number of jobs that the National Skills Academy for Construction will create by 2016.

David Lammy: I have been asked to reply.
	The National Skills Academy for Construction (NSAfC) has been established to provide sector specific training not to create jobs. However, the NSAfC estimate that those joining the industry through apprenticeships and adult traineeships via the National Skills Academy for Construction projects could exceed 2,500 over the next nine years. In addition to newcomers to the industry, the NSAfC will be focusing on upskilling existing construction sector employees.

Internet: Standards

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what discussions Ministers and officials from his Department have had with internet service providers on the adoption of minimum standards of security offered to consumers; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: Officials in the Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform are in regular contact with the internet service providers and bodies associated with the industry on a range of consumer issues. These issues include what actions the industry can take to improve the standard of security that a consumer may expect from a service provider. These discussions are also addressing other consumer issues relating to access to harmful content.

Partnership at Work Fund Programme

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform whether his Department commissioned any external assessment of applications for funding under the Partnership at Work Fund programme.

Patrick McFadden: The Department commissioned the Industrial Relations Research Unit at the University of Warwick to undertake an evaluation of the Partnership Fund. This was published in 2003 as Employment Relations Research Series No. 17.

Partnership at Work Fund Programme

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what the cost to his Department of administering the Partnership at Work Fund programme was in each year since 1999.

Patrick McFadden: This information is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Post Offices: Closures

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform who was responsible for the decision to instruct Post Office Ltd. to postpone the post office network change programme pending the May 2008 municipal and local authority elections in England and Wales.

Patrick McFadden: Cabinet Office guidelines clearly state that consultations should not be launched, and decisions relating to them announced, in an election period. Successive Administrations of both parties have observed these arrangements for many years.

Post Offices: Lancashire

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what the timetable is for the Post Office to finalise assessments of sub-post offices in Lancashire; and if he will make a statement.

Patrick McFadden: holding answer 12 December 2007
	Post Office Ltd. expects that the consultation on the area plan proposals for post office closures and new outreach services in Lancashire and Fylde with Southport will commence 22 January 2008 and conclude 3 March 2008. I understand that Post Office Ltd. expects to announce final decisions in early April 2008.

Post Offices: Tamworth

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what the timetable is for the Post Office to finalise assessments for sub-post offices in Tamworth constituency.

Patrick McFadden: Post Office Ltd. expects that the consultation on the area plan proposals for post office closures and new outreach services in Tamworth will commence 1 April 2008 and conclude 9 June 2008. I understand that Post Office Ltd. expects to announce final decisions in early July 2008.

PRIME MINISTER

Russia: Foreign Relations

Nigel Evans: To ask the Prime Minister when he next plans to discuss UK-Russia relations with President Putin.

Gordon Brown: It is not the practice of the Government to make public details of all discussions with foreign Governments.

DEFENCE

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the number of Taliban members who have surrendered then subsequently returned to anti-coalition forces.

Des Browne: All insurgents who surrender either to the Afghan National Security Forces or the International Security Assistance Force are held in the custody of the Afghan authorities. No information is held on whether any detainees who may be released by the Afghan Government subsequently rejoin the insurgency.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the recent military operations in Musa Qaleh.

Des Browne: The recent operation by the government of Afghanistan to reassert its authority over Musa Qaleh, which was fully supported by coalition forces, has so far proceeded according to plan. Establishing security in that area will enable reconstruction and economic development, which will benefit all the local population.

Armed Forces: Catering

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the average cost was of providing a 24-hour ration pack in 2006-07.

Bob Ainsworth: The average cost of a 24-hour ration pack in 2006-07 was £6.57.

Armed Forces: Housing

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much Ministry of Defence accommodation is deemed uninhabitable.

Derek Twigg: Accommodation can be uninhabitable for various reasons, such as it is awaiting demolition or is undergoing major repair, modernisation or upgrade work.
	All currently occupied service accommodation is of a habitable standard. It is not possible to separately identify uninhabitable accommodation without incurring disproportionate cost.

Defence Aviation Repair Agency: Gosport

Peter Viggers: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the Defence Aviation Repair Agency at Fleetlands, Gosport.

Bob Ainsworth: holding answer 11 December 2007
	In my written ministerial statement of 25 July 2007,  Official Report, column 74WS, I confirmed that work was continuing to progress the sale option for DARA's rotary wing and components businesses. I also announced that Vector Aerospace was selected as the preferred bidder and that if sale did not show MOD best value for defence then these business units would form part of a new defence support organisation being created by merging DARA's remaining businesses with ABRO.
	No decision has yet been taken as to whether the sale offers and delivers the best overall value for defence and provides a better long-term future for these businesses and their employees. We recognise the important role that all employees and industry play in supporting the armed forces. Negotiations are continuing with Vector Aerospace and we will arrive at a final decision as soon as possible to remove uncertainty for DARA's rotary and components staff.

Defence Equipment and Support Organisation: Finance

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much was spent by the Defence Equipment and Support Organisation on equipment programmes in each of the last three years.

Bob Ainsworth: holding answer 11 December 2007
	The information requested is provided in the following table:
	
		
			  Financial year  £ million 
			 2004-05 10,590 
			 2005-06 10,833 
			 2006-07 12,130 
		
	
	The figures include expenditure on equipment additions, equipment support (including stock consumption and post design services), PFI service charges and IT and telecommunications.

Defence: Procurement

Douglas Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reasons contract amendments relating to equipment acquisition programmes are proposed by his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Ainsworth: Contract amendments relating to equipment acquisition programmes are proposed where it is appropriate to meet the Department's business needs and are agreed between the parties to the contract, or where there are legislative changes.

Defence: Procurement

Douglas Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence under what circumstances he would require would-be contractors to spend their own or third party funds on advancing the development of new equipment for the armed forces; how this requirement is conveyed to contractors; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Ainsworth: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) conveys its future industrial and technological requirements to potential contractors via the Defence Industrial Strategy (DIS) and the Defence Technology Strategy (DTS), respectively.
	DIS and DTS bring clarity to the MOD's research and development (R and D) priorities, and provide a strategic view of the UK's defence R and D requirements for up to the next 10 years. They give industry a better understanding of where the MOD will invest its limited R and D budget, and thereby encourage industry to increase its investment in areas that are of importance to us. Copies of these strategies are available in the Library of the House.

Defence: Procurement

Douglas Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reasons post design services contracts as they relate to equipment acquisition programmes are awarded by his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Ainsworth: As part of the Department's commercial transformation, there has been a shift from traditional support arrangements with separate contracts for post design services, spares and maintenance, to integrated, innovative output-based support solutions. These are designed to optimise levels of service through life and to achieve better value for money.

Defence: Procurement

Douglas Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence with reference to the Answer of 29 October 2007,  Official Report, columns 959-60W, on defence: procurement, what proportion of offer prices quoted by contractors on  (a) equipment programmes worth more than £100 million and  (b) other programmes were within (i) 10 per cent., (ii) six per cent. and (iii) two per cent. of the corresponding expenditure figure advertised as a guide to suppliers within the MoD Defence Contractors Bulletin value banding information or elsewhere by his Department in the last period for which figures are available; what proportion of offer prices were greater than the guide figures; and what mechanisms are in place to ensure price competitiveness in the procurement process.

Bob Ainsworth: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The MOD uses competition where it can to ensure price competitiveness. Where competition is not a valid option, the MOD uses its well established non-competitive pricing arrangements to agree a fair and reasonable price for a contract.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the standard terms and conditions of purchase used by his Department in procurement of goods and services from the private sector prohibit the assignment of debt.

Bob Ainsworth: The standard terms and conditions used by the MOD in the procurement of goods and services from the private sector do not prohibit the assignment of debt owed by the private sector.

Fisheries: Navy

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answers of 26 November 2007,  Official Report, column 41W, on fisheries: Navy, for what reasons there were no river class offshore patrol vessels in operation on  (a) 27 April 2007,  (b) 28 April 2007 and  (c) 11 October 2007; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Ainsworth: There were no river class patrol vessels patrolling on 27 and 28 April 2007 as all three were on stand off activities (i.e. periods off task designated for activities such as handovers, stores replenishment and crew rest and recreation). On 11 October 2007 members of the crews of HMS Mersey and HMS Severn were engaged on naval training and HMS Tyne was de-ammunitioning prior to a docking period. Fishery protection duties were undertaken by Hunt Class vessels on each of the three days specified.

Helicopters: Procurement

Douglas Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what assessment his Department made of the capability of the EADS Eurocopter UH-145 to fulfil the light utility role prior to awarding the Future Lynx contract to Finmeccanica; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what assessment his Department made of the capability of the US Sikorsky Seahawk to fulfil aspects of the capability role identified in the Future Rotorcraft Capability programme prior to awarding the Future Lynx contract to Finmeccanica; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  whether his Department considered procuring different helicopter types to fulfil separately the different capability requirements detailed in the Future Rotorcraft Capability programme prior to awarding the Future Lynx contract to Finmeccanica; and if he will make a statement;
	(4)  what alternatives to the Future Lynx helicopter his Department considered to fulfil the Battlefield Light Utility Helicopter requirement before awarding the contract; and what the average cost per helicopter was of each contract considered.

Bob Ainsworth: The Future Rotorcraft Capability (FRC) programme explored the capabilities of many different helicopter types from all major western helicopter manufacturers, including products from EADS Eurocopter and Sikorsky. It also explored whether certain helicopter types could contribute to more than one area of our overall capability need, thus helping reduce through-life costs, though the wide spectrum of tasks required of our helicopter fleet means that no single type is able to meet the required capability in full.
	The through-life military capability, cost and risk of various mixes of different helicopter types was assessed. These mixes included options that used different aircraft types to deliver the Land and Maritime capabilities now contracted to be provided by Future Lynx.
	This analysis concluded that, alongside other investments arising from the FRC programme, the delivery of the British Army's Battlefield Reconnaissance Helicopter (BRH) and the Royal Navy's Surface Combatant Maritime Rotorcraft (SCMR) through a single helicopter type (Future Lynx) provided the best combination of through-life military capability, cost and risk.
	I am withholding the information requested on our internal assessments of the average cost per helicopter as its disclosure would prejudice commercial interests.

Iraq: Peacekeeping Operations

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what fuel with additives is being used for light A class, B class wheeled and C class platform vehicles in Iraq and Afghanistan; who is contracted to supply such fuel; what effect use of this fuel has had on fuel costs; how many engine breakdowns and write-offs have occurred attributed to use of such fuel in 2007; and what the cost of repairs and replacements arising has been.

Bob Ainsworth: In Iraq, Class A, B and C vehicles are fuelled using diesel (F-54) with no additives during the winter months. In the summer a 50/50 blend of diesel and aviation fuel (F-34) known as F-65 together with a lubricant additive, Lubrizol 539M, is used. The fuels are obtained from the US military in Kuwait under the UK-US Fuel Exchange agreement, with logistic support provided by two contractors. F-65 is approximately 11 per cent. more expensive than plain diesel.
	In Afghanistan, vehicles are operated in accordance with the NATO single fuel policy where this is technically feasible. The fuel is aviation fuel (F-34) (which has already been treated with AL41 Icing Inhibitor and AL61 Lubricity Improver) to which Lubrizol 539M is also added, the resulting mixture being referred to as F-63. A number of vehicle types are being fuelled with F-54 at certain locations for operational reasons, these include engineering plant, Warrior and CVR(T) vehicles. These fuels are provided under a NATO contract with a civilian contractor. In Afghanistan, F-34 is approximately two per cent. more expensive than F-54.
	No breakdowns have been apportioned to the use of any of these fuel types. During the transition from diesel to F-65 or F-63 use, there can be a transient increase in fuel filter use as the F-34 component has a cleansing effect on the engine.

Iraq: Peacekeeping Operations

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department spent on repairing  (a) armoured vehicles,  (b) aircraft,  (c) helicopters and  (d) weapons systems damaged in use in Iraq and Afghanistan in each year since 2003-04; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Ainsworth: The information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Iraq: Peacekeeping Operations

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans there are for the RAF to resume daytime flights on the Jasper airbridge in Iraq.

Bob Ainsworth: holding answer 10 December 2007
	RAF logistics flights into and around Iraq are undertaken in a way that strikes the correct balance between minimising risks and meeting operational requirements. Generally this means that flights are undertaken during the hours of darkness, but the most appropriate scheduling of each flight is considered on a case-by-case basis.

Iraq: Reconstruction

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many of his Department's personnel were assigned to the British provincial reconstruction team in  (a) Basra and  (b) Lashkar Gah in each year since 2005; what contact those personnel have with local people on reconstruction issues; and if he will make a statement.

Des Browne: The Ministry of Defence attached two UK Service personnel to the Provincial Reconstruction Team in Basra when it was established in 2006. This has recently been reduced to one.
	Since 2005, four UK service personnel have been attached to the Provincial Reconstruction Team in Lashkar Gar. In addition, a further contingent is assigned to the Security Sector Reform cell, which has gradually grown to its present size of 15 personnel.
	The Provincial Reconstruction Teams in both Basra and Lashkar Gar pursue a comprehensive approach to reconstruction. This includes: making regular contact with local Iraqis and Afghans through the mentoring of the Iraqi and Afghan National Security Forces and Judiciary; attendance, as appropriate, at shuras; meeting with representatives of the Governments of Iraq and Afghanistan at regional, provincial and district levels; and routine patrolling.

Nuclear Submarines

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will introduce safeguards to ensure that UK submarine commanders are unable to launch a nuclear attack on their own initiative under any circumstances; and if he will make a statement.

Des Browne: I am satisfied that all the necessary safeguards are in place.

Patrol Craft

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what purposes he used each category of River Class offshore patrol vessels in each year since 1997; for how many patrol days in each category; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Ainsworth: The River Class Offshore Patrol Vessels were commissioned in 2003 and 2004. The number of patrol days on fishery protection for each River Class Vessel were as follows:
	
		
			   Vessel  Days 
			 2002-03 Tyne 22 
			
			 2003-04 Tyne 222 
			  Severn 112 
			  Mersey 11 
			
			 2004-05 Tyne 192 
			  Severn 204 
			  Mersey 230 
			
			 2005-06 Tyne 193 
			  Severn 225 
			  Mersey 218 
			
			 2006-07 Tyne 225 
			  Severn 185 
			  Mersey 208 
		
	
	For the remaining time the vessels were used for standoffs (periods off task for activities such as handovers, stores replenishment, and rest and recreation for the crew), training, maintenance, passage and visits, and unused days owned by VT Group plc.

Patrol Craft

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what maximum number of patrol days each River Class offshore patrol vessel may undertake  (a) operationally and  (b) under the terms of his Department's (i) agreement with DEFRA and (ii) the contract with Vosper Thornycroft.

Bob Ainsworth: The Royal Navy Plan specifies that each River Class vessel undertakes up to 230 Patrol Days each year depending on the requirement of the MOD/DEFRA contract. Remaining days are taken up by standoff (ie periods off task for activities such as handovers, stores replenishment and crew rest and recreation); training; passage and visits, and 45 days, including 25 for maintenance, which are owned by the VT Group plc, from whom the vessels are, leased.
	The current agreement with DEFRA does not specify the type(s) of vessels to be used but does state the proportion of total patrol days to be provided by Offshore Patrol Vessels. In 2007-08 800 patrol days are to be provided, of which 560 must be Offshore Patrol Vessel days.
	The contract with the VT Group plc does not include a maximum number of patrol days. It specifies that each of the three River Class patrol vessels must be available to the Royal Navy for 320 days per year.

Patrol Craft

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  for what purposes the River Class offshore patrol vessels have been used in addition to fisheries protection; how many patrol days this has required in each case since the River Class were commissioned; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  for what purposes the River Class offshore patrol vessels will be used in addition to fisheries protection for the next five years; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Ainsworth: The operational focus of the River Class vessels is fishery protection. When not being used for this purpose their time is used for stand-offs, training, passage, visits and maintenance. They must also be available for the VT Group plc 'unused' days (days for which the ships are not contracted and therefore unavailable for any FLEET tasking). They may also be programmed by the Commander in Chief Fleet for other tasks, such as maritime security, in the case of an urgent operational requirement. These cases are likely to be rare. None of these tasks are carried out at the expense of the agreed number of fishery patrol days provided by the Ministry of Defence to DEFRA. There are currently no plans to change the purposes for which River Class vessels are used in the future.

Puma Helicopters

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans his Department has for extending the life of the RAF's existing fleet of Puma HC1 helicopters; when the proposed Puma Mk 2 helicopter will come into service; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Ainsworth: The Ministry of Defence announced in June 2007 the award of a contract to EADS Eurocopter to assess the timescale, cost, performance and risk issues associated with the enhancements of the capability and the extension of the in-service life of the Puma HC1 helicopter until 2022. This assessment will explore issues relating to the upgrade of avionics systems and the replacement of engines and obsolete items. It is scheduled to conclude in 2008 to inform an investment decision to undertake the capability enhancement and life extension programme. It is envisaged that the resultant aircraft would be known as the Puma HC2. In-service duties will not be decided until the main investment decision is made.

Trident Missiles

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what formal procedure has to be followed for submarine commanders to launch Trident missiles; and what role security codes play in that procedure.

Des Browne: I am withholding the information as its disclosure would, or would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the armed forces.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Bluetongue Disease: Disease Control

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will assess the merits of the use of pre-movement testing as a strategy for containing bluetongue disease; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: The strategy to manage movements of animals from bluetongue restricted zones has been agreed at EU level and is set out in Regulation 1266/2007. The regime is based around the scientific evidence base, with movement conditions intended to provide appropriate assurance that animals are not infected before moves can be allowed. Pre-movement testing forms an integral part of this regime, but testing must be used in conjunction with other measures to provide appropriate guarantees, due to the nature of bluetongue spread by midges.
	These measures include testing during the "vector free period" when temperatures have dropped significantly and midge activity is greatly reduced, or isolating animals in midge-proof buildings before testing. In each case, the aim is to ensure that the animal is safe to move. Guidance on these provisions, and on movement in the vector free period in particular, will be published shortly (the most likely window for such a period if it can be declared is January to March).

Foot and Mouth Disease: Disease Control

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what account is taken of  (a) county boundaries and  (b) distance from outbreak in determining foot and mouth disease restriction zones; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: EU legislation sets out that a Protection Zone must be imposed for a minimum of 3 km, and a Surveillance Zone for a minimum of 10 km, around each infected premises. Our Protection and Surveillance Zones have always followed these minimum requirements and have not been demarcated by county boundaries.
	The wider Restricted Zone originally covered the whole of Great Britain and implemented the national movement ban, but was subsequently reduced in size to be based on administrative and county boundaries, based on a veterinary risk assessment. In addition, the EU export areas have been delineated by administrative and county boundaries on the same basis.

WOMEN AND EQUALITY

Pay Equality

Julie Kirkbride: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality when she will bring forward proposals to address the gender pay gap.

Barbara Follett: For the first time, we have an indicator to narrow the pay gap in the Equalities Public Service Agreement. The Government have announced their decision to extend the right to request flexible working to parents of older children, and we are considering responses to our consultation on the Equality Bill about how the law on equal pay could be strengthened.

Public Bodies: Appointments

Anne Snelgrove: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality what progress the Government has made on increasing the proportion of women appointed to public bodies.

Barbara Follett: This Government are committed to equal representation of women and men on our public bodies. Women currently hold 35.5 per cent. of public appointments—an increase from 32 per cent. in 1997. One of my priorities for women is to empower more of them to take up opportunities to participate in public life.

Women: Political Life

Graham Allen: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality what steps the Government is taking to increase the representation of women in political life.

Barbara Follett: I refer the hon. member to the answer given to the hon. Member for North Ayrshire and Arran (Ms Clark) today,  Official Report col. 451.

Imprisonment

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality what recent discussions she has had with ministerial colleagues on alternatives to imprisonment for women.

Barbara Follett: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer that I gave to the hon. Member for Bridgend (Mrs. Moon) today,  Official Report col. 450.

SCOTLAND

Corporate Hospitality

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland on how many occasions he has accepted corporate hospitality in the last 12 months.

David Cairns: Chapter 7 of the 'Ministerial Code' sets out the rules on the registration of hospitality.

Delivery Services

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland which companies are under contract to his Department to provide mail services.

David Cairns: The Scotland Office uses the Scottish Executive's postal facilities for the majority of outgoing mail and reimburses them for usage. In addition, the office uses Royal Mail for the transportation of ministerial papers.

Departmental Consultants

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much was paid in consultancy fees by his Department in each year since its establishment.

David Cairns: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer that I gave to my right hon. Friend the Member for Oldham, West and Royton (Mr. Meacher) on 3 July 2007,  Official Report, column 959W.

Departmental Labour Turnover

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what the percentage turnover of staff was in his Department in  (a) the last 12-month period and  (b) the last 24-month period for which figures are available.

David Cairns: All the staff in the Scotland Office are on loan from other Government Departments, normally for a period of two to three years. At the end of this period, staff generally return to their parent Department.

Departmental Manpower

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many  (a) men and  (b) women are employed by his Department, broken down by civil service grade.

David Cairns: Information on gender and civil service grade is published in the office's annual report, a copy of which has been placed in the House Library.

Departmental Pay

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much his Department and its agencies spent on end-of-year bonus payments in each of the last five years.

David Cairns: I refer the hon. Member to the answers that I gave to my right hon. Friend the Member for Leicester, East (Keith Vaz) on 19 December 2006,  Official Report, column 1769W, and the hon. Member for Orkney and Shetland (Mr. Carmichael) on 13 June 2007,  Official Report, column 1048W.

Illegal Immigrants

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many illegal immigrants were discovered working for his Department in the last year for which figures are available.

David Cairns: Employment in the civil service is done in accordance with the civil service nationality rules, which are available at:
	www.civilservice.gov.uk/nationality.

CHILDREN, SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES

Antisocial Behaviour: South West Region

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many people comprise the respect squad sent to the West Country; what work the squad will undertake; and whether it plans to visit Torbay.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 11 December 2007
	The group of expert practitioners referred to as the respect "squad" comprises of 10 people.
	The purpose and work of these expert practitioners is to provide advice and assistance for local partners in relation to complex cases of antisocial behaviour. An expert practitioner intervention has no formal power and is not designed to be an inspection but to provide support where local partners are unable to formulate a clear solution to individual cases, excluding these cases where court action is already underway, or trends in incidents of antisocial behaviour. These nationally recognised expert practitioners have committed to giving some time and advice with the agreement of their employer and taking into account their own work priorities.
	In September 2007, two expert practitioners visited and gave advice to local service providers and members of the public in an ongoing case of antisocial behaviour in Torbay, however there is no current outstanding case in this area and no visit to the area is planned.

Departmental Procurement

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families whether the standard terms and conditions of purchase used by his Department in procurement of goods and services from the private sector prohibit the assignment of debt.

Kevin Brennan: The Department's standard terms and conditions for the purchase of goods and services do not specifically mention the prohibition of the assignment of debt. They do include a clause stating that the benefit and burden of the contract may not be assigned or sub-contracted in whole or in part by the contractor without the prior written consent of the Department.

Departmental Publicity

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the budget was of his Department's public communications unit in the latest period for which figures are available; and how this budget was spent.

Kevin Brennan: holding answer 11 December 2007
	The budget for the Department's public communication unit for 2006-07 was £3.5 million on salaries and £218.4k on operational costs. In addition £120.5k was spent on programmes to improve delivery. During this period the unit responded to: 167,086 telephone enquiries; 53,844 letters and emails from members of the public; and drafted 8,846 responses to letters from MPs and Peers. It also managed 47 public consultations and processed 15,835 consultation responses.
	The figures supplied are for the former Department for Education and Skills and the costs include work which is now the responsibility for Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills. We would not be able to separate these cost out except at disproportionate cost.

Literacy

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what steps the Government have taken to increase literacy rates since 1997.

Jim Knight: Improving standards of literacy is one of the Government's top priorities. Since 1997 literacy rates have risen dramatically. The 2007 English results show that 80 per cent. of 11-year-olds reached the expected level or above, an increase of 17 percentage points since 1997; and 74 per cent. of 14-year-olds reached the expected level or above, an increase of 17 percentage points since 1997. At GCSE, 2007 results indicate that 45.7 per cent. of young people achieved 5 A*-C GCSEs including English, an increase of 9.7 percentage points since 1997.
	This is as a result of a number of factors, including the challenge and support provided through the Primary and Secondary National Strategies. The National Strategies provide continuing professional development to support schools in raising standards in teaching, support better use of pupil performance data and challenge schools and local authorities to set ambitious targets for their pupils.
	The primary framework for teaching literacy has been renewed to reflect the recommendations of the "Rose Review". The renewed framework now puts phonics at the heart of teaching reading and, backed up by the letters and sounds phonics teaching programme, will help to raise attainment levels in all pupils. Next April a revised and updated secondary framework for teaching English will be published which will place greater focus on pupil assessment and progression.
	For those children who struggle most in learning to read, the additional support provided through the national roll-out of the Every Child a Reader programme and the development of an Every Child a Writer programme will help to ensure that we maintain and extend the improvements we have already achieved.

Members: Correspondence

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families when he will reply to correspondence from the hon. Member for Billericay dated (a) 28 August,  (b) 15 October and  (c) 15 November on the subject of Mrs Diana Taylor's attempts to establish contact with her daughter; and if he will provide the legal advice requested.

Kevin Brennan: holding answer 10 December 2007
	I replied to these letters on 7 December 2007. I apologise for the delay in responding. This matter involved complex policy and legal considerations, requiring discussion between my officials and officials of the General Register Office. My reply explains the provisions of the relevant legislation.

Pupils: Intimidation

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many deaths of school children have been reported as attributable to bullying in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

Kevin Brennan: This information is not centrally available.

Telephone Services

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families if he will place in the Library details of his Department's contracts with suppliers to provide telephone helpline services to the public.

Kevin Brennan: Details of all the telephone helpline services to the public which the Department supports through contracts or grants to suppliers or voluntary sector organisations are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Some of these are included in the following table.
	
		
			  Name of helpline  Purpose 
			 Connexions Direct To provide advice and support for 13-19 year olds. 
			 Sexwise To answer queries on sex and relationships from under 18 year-olds and to signpost to local services. Jointly funded by DCSF as part of the teenage pregnancy national campaign 
			 FRANK To provide factual information on drugs to young people and parents and signpost to local services. Jointly funded by DCSF as part of the drug information national campaign. 
			 Young Minds To provide advice for young people on mental health issues, including depression, self harm and eating disorders. 
			 Early years and childcare careers helpline To provide information about careers in the early years and childcare sector and to pass on caller details to local authorities. 
			 Parentline Plus To provide general information and support for parents. An additional contract covers provision of a helpline on bullying. 
			 Affordable Childcare To signpost parents to information about childcare options in their local area. 
			 Advisory Centre for Education To provide advice for parents on educational matters, including special educational needs, exclusions and admissions law. 
			 Children's Legal Centre To provide legal advice for parents on issues around contact and parental responsibility 
			 Family Rights Group To provide advice for parents involved with the social care system. 
			 One Parent Families To provide advice for single parents on topics like benefits, housing and debt. 
			 Contact a Family To provide advice for parents of disabled children. 
			 DCSF Public Enquiry Unit To provide the general public with information on DCSF-related enquiries. 
			 Prolog publications helpline To enable members of the public to order DCSF publications. 
		
	
	Additionally, the Department has announced that it will provide a grant to support the expansion and development of helpline services provided by the NSPCC.

Visits Abroad

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much his Department spent on overnight accommodation for Ministers overseas in the last year.

Kevin Brennan: Details of the cost of overseas travel, including the cost of travel and accommodation are contained in the Overseas Travel by Cabinet Ministers list. The latest list for the period 1 April 2006—31 March 2007 was published on 25 July 2007. Details for the 2007-08 financial year will be published as soon as possible after the end of the financial year. All travel is made in accordance with the "Ministerial Code".

TRANSPORT

Aviation: Exhaust Emissions

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate she has made of the average volume of carbon dioxide emissions per passenger, per kilometre for travel by air.

Jim Fitzpatrick: DEFRA publish estimates of the carbon dioxide emissions per passenger kilometre from aircraft flying domestic, short haul and long haul routes. These are contained in their report "Guidelines to DEFRA's GHG conversion factors for company reporting", which was updated in June 2007.
	The estimated emissions are 158 grammes of carbon dioxide per passenger kilometre for domestic flights; 130 grammes of carbon dioxide per passenger kilometre for short haul flights and 105 grammes of carbon dioxide per passenger kilometre for long haul flights. When using these factors, an uplift of 9 per cent. is then applied to these factors in line with the evidence from the intergovernmental panel on climate change to account for non-direct routes (i.e. not along the straight line between destinations) and delays/circling.
	This would effectively increase the factors to apply to a given flight distance to 172 grammes, 142 grammes and 114 grammes of carbon dioxide per passenger kilometre for domestic flights, short haul flights and long haul flights respectively.
	These factors are illustrative; actual emissions will vary significantly according to the type of aircraft in use, the load, or cabin class for example.

Aviation: Standards

George Young: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what evidential basis there is for the Terminal Control South West Airspace Development change reducing delays in flights.

Jim Fitzpatrick: It is not for the Secretary of State for Transport to determine the evidential basis for the NATS' Terminal Control South West Airspace Development to reduce delays in flights.
	The NATS Terminal Control South West Airspace Development proposal is currently subject to scrutiny by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), in accordance with their independent Airspace Change Process.

Compton VHF Omnidirectional Radio

George Young: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many flights using the Compton VHF omnidirectional radio (VOR) there were between September 2005 and September 2006; how many of these flights were delayed as a result of congestion in the VOR system; and what the average delay in those flights was.

Jim Fitzpatrick: This is an operational matter for NATS, the air navigation services provider. I have asked the chief executive of NATS to respond to the question of the right hon. Member directly.

Departmental Food

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what percentage of  (a) beef,  (b) lamb,  (c) pork and  (d) dairy products used in her departmental headquarters were imported products in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Jim Fitzpatrick: All beef, lamb and dairy products used in the Department's headquarters catering service are sourced within the UK. Bacon originates from Denmark but all other pork products such as chops and joints are obtained from the UK.

Departmental ICT

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what teleconference facilities are available to  (a) ministers and  (b) officials at her Department; and how many ministerial meetings took place by teleconference link in her Department in each of the last five years.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Department for Transport uses both video conferencing and telephone conference facilities, and all staff are encouraged to use them whenever possible to save time and travelling expenses.
	Video conference facilities are available in the Department for Transport (Central) and its agencies, with the exception of the Government Car and Despatch Agency and Vehicle Certification Agency who have no such facilities. They are available to all staff but no record of specific usage is kept.
	Telephone conferencing facilities are available to most staff, either through specific units or their individual handsets, but no records are kept of usage.
	The information about ministerial meetings that took place by telephone conference or through video conferencing in the last five years could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Official Visits

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many flights to  (a) Brussels,  (b) Paris,  (c) Manchester and  (d) Leeds were taken by Ministers and officials in her Department in each of the last five years.

Jim Fitzpatrick: This information can be provided only at disproportionate cost. Since 1999, the Government have published on an annual basis a list of all overseas visits by Cabinet Ministers costing in excess of £500, as well as the total cost of all ministerial travel overseas. Copies of the lists are available in the Libraries of the House. All travel is undertaken in accordance with the "Civil Service Management Code", the "Ministerial Code" and "Travel by Ministers".

Departmental Pay

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many people in her Department and its predecessors were paid over £100,000 in each year since 1997.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The number of people in the Department for Transport earning over £100,000 is set out in the following table for each year since 2003. Earnings comprise basic salary plus bonus, where applicable. Figures prior to 2003 are not readily available and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	 [Official Report, 8 January 2008, Vol. 470, c. 3MC.]
	
		
			   Number of staff 
			 2003 8 
			 2004 19 
			 2005 25 
			 2006 44 
			 2007 48 
		
	
	The figures for 2006 include the impact of transfer to the Department of the responsibilities of the Strategic Rail Authority, including about 30 senior civil servants, some earning above £100,000.

Departmental Sustainable Development

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether her Department is working towards an accredited certified environmental management system  (a) for its whole estate and  (b) in some of its buildings.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The information requested is as follows:
	 (a) The Department is working towards an accredited certified environmental management system in a number of its sites. The diverse and geographically remote nature of the departmental building stock makes the achievement of an accredited EMS covering the whole estate an extremely challenging task.
	 (b) The Department has five sites that are covered by an accredited certified EMS and three sites that have a non-certified EMS. In addition 608 sites are working towards attaining an EMS.

Galileo Satellite Programme

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will make it her policy to oppose the further development of the Galileo Satellite programme without the commissioning of an independent cost benefit analysis; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 11 December 2007
	 The results of a first exploratory evaluation by the Galileo Supervisory Authority of the benefits of Galileo for the EU over the 20 year period to 2027 were published by the Commission in September. This showed substantial additional value for the EU of €50 billion to €60 billion over the period, over and above the benefits of the market created by GPS. The UK minutes statement at the Transport Council on 30 November called on the Commission regularly to review costs, risks and likely revenues as the project progressed.

Galileo Satellite Programme

Graham Stringer: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when she expects to receive from the European Commission a full cost-benefit analysis of the Galileo satellite system.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 5 December 2007
	The results of a first exploratory evaluation by the Galileo Supervisory Authority of the benefits of Galileo for the EU over the 20 year period to 2027 were published by the Commission in September. This showed substantial additional value for the EU of €50 billion to €60 billion over the period, over and above the benefits of the market created by GPS. The UK minutes statement at the Transport Council on 30 November 2007 called on the Commission regularly to review costs, risks and likely revenues as the project progressed.

Government Car and Despatch Agency: Standards

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will place in the Library a copy of the Government Car and Despatch Agency's latest customer satisfaction survey results.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The GCDA customer satisfaction survey is carried out independently by GfK NOP. The results of the survey are published each year in the Agency's Annual Report and Accounts, copies of which are available in the Library of the House.

Heathrow Airport: Public Participation

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will release details of submissions to the public consultation on expanding Heathrow on a regular basis as the consultation progresses.

Jim Fitzpatrick: holding answer 10 December 2007
	 It is anticipated a very large number of responses to the consultation will be received. We will not be in a position to release any information until after the consultation is closed and replies have been collated and analysed. We will make available a summary of responses as soon as we are able to do so and in line with the Cabinet Office Code of Practice on Consultation.

Heathrow Airport: Public Participation

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will take into account the number of responses to the public consultation on the expansion of Heathrow airport in reaching her decision on the project; and if she will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: holding answer 10 December 2007
	 We expect to make final policy decisions later in 2008, taking account of all the available evidence, including the responses to the consultation.

Navigation

George Young: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment she has made of whether introduction of precision radio navigation in the UK would make unnecessary the Terminal Control South West Airspace Development change proposal affecting current flights in the vicinity of Compton VHF omnidirectional radio; and whether she plans to introduce precision radio navigation in the UK.

Jim Fitzpatrick: It is not for the Secretary of State for Transport to either assess the impact of the introduction of Precision Area Navigation (P-RNAV) on Airspace Change Proposals or to make any decision on the introduction of Precision Area Navigation in the UK, as these are matters for the Civil Aviation Authority.

Regional Airports

Fraser Kemp: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans she has for the development of regional airports; and if she will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Government's Future of Air Transport White Paper recognised provision of additional regional airport capacity as a key driver to generating growth and investment in the regions, subject to local and wider environmental impacts of air travel being taken into account. Within this context airport operators across the UK were invited to publish master plans outlining their future development proposals.
	Many regional airport operators have produced comprehensive master plans and will submit development proposals for planning approval as and when they are ready to do so.

Roads: Noise

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much was  (a) allocated to and  (b) spent on mitigating the effects of noise generated by major roads and motorways in each year since 2000; how much has been allocated for this purpose in each year until 2011; if she will place in the Library copies of research commissioned by her Department on identifying, mapping and modelling communities affected by such noise; and if she will make a statement.

Tom Harris: Since 2000 the Highways Agency has been allocated £5 million per annum for noise mitigation measures to deal with the most serious and pressing cases, where practical and cost-effective measures can be provided. These measures are applied to the entire strategic road network including both motorways and trunks roads. This annual allocation for noise mitigation is scheduled to continue until the end of the period covered by CSR07.
	The Agency's expenditure in this area is not limited to this figure as noise mitigation measures are included in all the Agency's schemes, where warranted, as it is more cost effective to do this work concurrently with other scheme works. The cost of these works are subsumed within the overall cost of the individual schemes making it impossible to extract the exact figure spent on noise mitigation without incurring disproportionate costs.
	In 1999, the Agency commissioned research to develop a system which would help to identify and classify residential areas adjacent to the road network on the basis of their noise exposure. A copy of the report from this research will be placed in the House library. More recent research has been undertaken by DEFRA, as a result of the introduction of the Environmental Noise Directive into UK legislation. This has required major sources of noise to be mapped, including the entire strategic road network. These maps are expected to be published by DEFRA in early 2008.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Conditions of Employment: Mental Health

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 27 November 2007,  Official Report, columns 27-30WS, on mental health and employment, 
	(1)  what the role is of the national director of health and work;
	(2)  what the terms of reference are of the review into improving the health and employment prospects of people of working age being undertaken by Dame Carol Black.

Anne McGuire: Professor Dame Carol Black is the Government's first ever national director for health and work. Dame Carol is a champion for the health, work and well-being strategy which is a partnership between Department for Work and Pensions, Health and Safety Executive and the three Health Departments of Great Britain. In this role she advises Ministers, engages stakeholders, raises awareness of the importance of work to health and helps to change perceptions and behaviour.
	In March 2007, jointly with the Department of Health, we commissioned Dame Carol to carry out a review. The terms of reference are
	"To conduct a review of health-related factors that influence working life in Great Britain, and make recommendations."
	This review will be crucial to helping us understand the impact of ill-health in working age people and how best we can tackle this and support people to stay in work. It will help steer the Government's strategy for the coming years.
	As a specific task within the role of national director we have asked Dame Carol to chair a high-level group drawn from business, the medical profession, academia, the third sector, and stakeholder groups to oversee the work on mental health and employment that we announced on 27 November. We are currently developing the detailed terms of reference for this steering group.

Conditions of Employment: Mental Health

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 27 November 2007,  Official Report, columns 27-30WS, on mental health and employment, what form a fitnote will take; and how a fitnote will differ from a sicknote.

Caroline Flint: DWP is currently revising the format and content of the medical certificate (FMed3). The Department is working with employers, employees, healthcare professionals and their representative bodies to produce a certificate that will assist and encourage doctors to provide clearer and more helpful fitness for work advice to their patients, especially those with mental health conditions. The revised certificate will also provide employers with the information needed to help facilitate an employee's earlier return to work where possible.

Departmental Consultants

Charles Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what contracts his Department has with external consultants; what the total value, including all VAT and disbursements, of these contracts are for the current financial year; how long each contract lasts; and what the forecast total value is of each contract.

Caroline Flint: The Department for Work and Pensions' current contracts with external consultants, the estimated expenditure on them (including VAT and all disbursements) in the current financial year, their total value and duration are shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Department for Work and Pensions—contracts with external consultants—November 2007 
			  Contract  External consultants  Estimated total value July 2008 (£)  Duration of contract  Estimated total value of contract (£) 
			 Support to pensions transformation programme Booz Allen Hamilton 14,134,745 3 February 2003 to 30 November 2007 104,680,750 
			 Strategic partner to employment support allowance project Capgemini 5,875,000 26 March 2007 to 25 March 2011 15,275,000 
			 Integrated communications network services - contract transformation plan management Deloitte 3,935,977 24 November 2005 to 31 March 2009 12,038,290 
			 DWP cross towers communications Deloitte 5,875,000 3 April 2006 to 31 March 2008 11,792,357 
			 Support to disability and carers service change programme PA Consulting 237,607 1 December 2006 to 31 May 2008 10,575,000 
			 Professional and consultancy services for the continuous improvement programme Capgemini 6,165,120 7 July 2007 to 6 July 2008 8,220,161 
			 Strategic partner—business and financial controls PricewaterhouseCoopers 1,818,248 1 April 2006 to 31 March 2008 6,462,500 
			 Initial design support—business process design and re-engineering Deloitte 1,343,601 20 June 2006 to 28 December 2007 4,419,985 
			 Strategic partner to risk assurance division Grant Thornton 1,175,000 1 June 2005 to 31 May 3,414,714 
			 Enabling retirement savings programme (design and implementation strand) Deloitte 1,175,000 8 August 2007 to 31 July 2009 2,585,000 
			 HR IS/IT modernisation programme Capgemini 1,435,876 23 October 2006 to 22 October 2008 2,350,000 
			 Support to central payments system programme 2 Deloitte 1,374,734 1 November 2007 to 31 May 2007 1,924,628 
			 DWP leaflet review and analysis Bang Communications 634,984 29 September 2006 to 31 January 2008 1,039,348 
			 DWP mystery shopper GFK/NOP 242,581 3 January 2006 to 31 January 2009 728,479 
			 Support to central payments system programme l PricewaterhouseCoopers 431,862 1 November 2007 to 31 May 2007 604,608 
			 Support to performance and planning: clear line of sight Capgemini 587,077 31 May 2007 to 31 May 2008 587,077 
			 Fraud tracking research GFK/NOP 273,706 30 July 2007 to 31 December 2008 581,625 
			 Child maintenance redesign—disregard Deloitte 374,736 1 August 2007 to 31 July 2008 562,104 
			 Programme management and assurance function to the corporate centre Capgemini 497,495 1 August 2007 to 18 December 2007 497,495 
			 Programme design and programme business change for pensions reform delivery programme PricewaterhouseCoopers 449,849 10 September 2007 to 31 March 2008 449,849 
			 Delivery of financial controls Deloitte 240,763 13 July 2007 to 30 March 2009 436,443 
			 Child maintenance redesign—information and support Deloitte 241,332 1 August 2007 to 31 July 2008 361,998 
			 Departmental financial advisers PricewaterhouseCoopers 352,500 1 June 2007 to 30 November 2009 352,500 
			 Development of organisational design review and high level people strategy for jobcentre plus Deloitte 339,641 16 August 2007 to 1 January 2008 339,641 
			 DWP media evaluation Media Measurement 163,578 7 December 2005 to 31 December 2007 293,750 
			 Business design and design capability—change directorate Deloitte 158,625 6 August 2007 to 12 August 2007 293,750 
			 Support to the six point plan for government ATOS 220,665 16 July 2007 to 16 November 2007 220,665 
			 DWP public attitudes research Brahm Ltd 108,462 7 December 2005 to 31 March 2008 204,072 
			 HR learning and development improvement programme PA Consulting 79,247 16 July 2007 to 31 March 2009 198,118 
			 Talent management and leadership development PA Consulting 177,278 28 February 2007 to 30 March 2008 177,278 
			 Baselining and tracking research of employability campaign FDS 133,931 13 June 2007 to 31 January 2008 133,931 
			 Talent/leadership development framework for jobcentre plus PA Consulting 55,166 19 December 2006 to 31 March 2008 117,353 
			 Support for working together programme evaluation phase and future strategic design PKF 115,150 1 September 2007 to 31 March 2008 115,150 
			 Designing an accreditation approach PA Consulting 115,091 25 September 2007 to 31 December 2007 115,091 
			 Scheme design support for financial assistance scheme FS Explorer 64,168 17 September 2007 to 17 July 2008 105,774 
			 Pensions reform delivery programme Tribal Communications 105,574 24 April 2007 to 31 December 2007 105,574 
			 Financial support on Remploy/TU negotiations KPMG 102,225 24 August 2007 to 31 October 2007 102,225 
			 Updated DWP leadership and management development approach PKF 88,125 13 November 2007 to 30 January 2008 88,125 
			 Independent verification of CSA improvement plan benefits realisation Oakleigh 34,892 16 January 2007 to 19 December 2007 64,972 
			 Design study for central payments system programme—pensions integration backbone Accenture 49,115 15 October 2007 to 15 December 2007 49,115 
			 Office of Disability Issues—images of disability initiative Agnes Fletcher 25,263 29 October 2007 to 31 December 2007 25,263 
			 Due diligence work PricewaterhouseCoopers 23,280 29 October 2007 to 30 November 2007 23,280 
			 Data warehouse strategy architect Capgemini 11,351 6 November 2006 to 30 November 2007 22,701 
			 Support to pensions transformation programme: rational software IBM 18,180 23 July 2007 to 31 March 2008 18,180 
			 Strategic advice for pensions reform communications campaign Brahm 15,686 29 October 2007 to 16 November 2007 15,686 
			 Total  51,077,485  192,769,602

Departmental Telephone Services

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which telephone contact centres are the responsibility of his Department; what mechanisms are in place to monitor their effectiveness; and how many people have been employed in each of those centres in each year since they were established.

Anne McGuire: The information requested on the Department's contact centres and the numbers employed in them is shown in the following tables.
	The Department monitors the effectiveness of its contact centres through a scorecard that measures performance across a balanced range of measures. Performance is reported on a monthly basis to the Department's Contact Centre Advisory Team and, each quarter, to the DWP Planning, Performance and Risk Committee. Performance is also monitored by the Contact Centre Performance Working Group whose remit is to: understand and improve performance; identify common performance pressure points, share good practice; and support common performance improvement initiatives.
	In addition, each business unit employs a range of performance management measures and tools to monitor the effectiveness of its centres which, for example, include: real time and historic performance measurement; mystery shopping; and the reviewing of the performance of individual agents.
	The Department also now reports on the performance of its contact centres to the Contact Council established following Sir David Varney's recommendations in his report 'Service transformation: A better service for citizens and businesses, a better deal for the taxpayer'.
	
		
			   1993-94  1994-95  1995-96  1996-97  1997-98  1998-99  1999-2000  2000-01 
			 Disability and Carers(1) 
			 Benefit Enquiry Line 76.66 137.32 149.81 166.33 123.22 108.27 125.31 128.84 
			 DLA/AA Helpline(2) — — — — — — — — 
			  
			 Child Support Agency(3)— 
			 Dudley — — — — — — — 86.17 
			 Hastings — — — — — — — 59.89 
			 Falkirk — — — — — — — 83.57 
			 Plymouth — — — — — — — 72.46 
			 Birkenhead and Liverpool — — — — — — — 147.27 
			 Belfast — — — — — — — 82.20 
			  
			 Debt Management(6) 
			 Trafford — — — — — — — — 
			  
			 The Pension Service(7) 
			 Burnley — — — — — — — — 
			 Cwmbran — — — — — — — — 
			 Dundee — — — — — — — — 
			 Futures — — — — — — — — 
			 International Pension Centre inc. Medical Benefits — — — — — — — — 
			 Leicester — — — — — — — — 
			 London Pension Centre Newcastle — — — — — — — — 
			 Motherwell — — — — — — — — 
			 Seaham — — — — — — — — 
			 Stockport — — — — — — — — 
			 Swansea — — — — — — — — 
			 Warrington — — — — — — — — 
			 Bath — — — — — — — — 
			 Birmingham — — — — — — — — 
			 Blackpool — — — — — — — — 
			 Dearne Valley — — — — — — — — 
			 Goole — — — — — — — — 
			 National Pension Centre — — — — — — — — 
			 Pension Credit Application Line — — — — — — — — 
			 Walsall — — — — — — — — 
			 Winter Fuel Cardiff — — — — — — — — 
			 Management and Central Support — — — — — — — — 
			  
			 Jobcentre Plus Contact Centre Directorate(10) 
			 Annesley — — — — — — — — 
			 Bangor — — — — — — — — 
			 Blackburn — — — — — — — — 
			 Bootle — — — — — — — — 
			 Bridgend — — — — — — — — 
			 Caerphilly — — — — — — — — 
			 Clydebank — — — — — — — — 
			 Coventry — — — — — — — — 
			 Derby — — — — — — — — 
			 Dundee — — — — — — — — 
			 Exeter — — — — — — — — 
			 Garston — — — — — — — — 
			 Grimsby Europarc — — — — — — — — 
			 Grimsby Crown House — — — — — — — — 
			 Halifax — — — — — — — — 
			 Lincoln — — — — — — — — 
			 Liverpool — — — — — — — — 
			 Lowestoft — — — — — — — — 
			 Marton Mere (Blackpool) — — — — — — — — 
			 Middlesbrough — — — — — — — — 
			 Preston — — — — — — — — 
			 Newcastle — — — — — — — — 
			 Paisley — — — — — — — — 
			 Pembroke Dock — — — — — — — — 
			 Poole — — — — — — — — 
			 Sheffield — — — — — — — — 
			 Southend — — — — — — — — 
			 Taunton — — — — — — — — 
			 Telford New Town House — — — — — — — — 
			 Telford Plaza — — — — — — — — 
			 Torquay — — — — — — — — 
			 Group Management and Central Support — — — — — — — — 
		
	
	
		
			   2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			 Disability and Carers(1)
			 Benefit Enquiry Line 100.28 91.04 97.59 97.23 82.19 94.15 86.85 
			 
			 DLA/AA Helpline(2) — 367.40 374.05 398.45 472.23 423.00 432.76 
			 Child Support Agency (4)— (4)— (4)— (4)— (4)— (4)— (5)— 
			 Dudley 100.77 89.59 77.94 61.71 68.03 60.91 56.44 
			 Hastings 51.86 55.58 44.01 45.78 45.80 54.25 43.26 
			 Falkirk 83.94 72.81 78.41 59.30 59.56 64.65 53.72 
			 Plymouth 72.89 82.18 63.18 68.99 64.64 60.40 60.54 
			 Birkenhead and Liverpool 154.45 125.55 246.81 214.84 225.52 188.38 167.63 
			 Belfast 66.20 73.80 86.63 78.39 65.08 78.84 67.99 
			 
			 Debt Management(6)
			 Trafford — — — — 475.13 387.37 440.63 
			  (8)— (8)— (9)— 
			 The Pension Service(7)
			 Burnley — — — — 523.13 566.55 571.69 
			 Cwmbran — — — — 302.13 301.35 325.96 
			 Dundee — — — — 457.24 489.20 468.80 
			 Futures — — — — 341.20 317.70 326.60 
			 International Pension Centre inc. Medical Benefits — — — — 940.83 893.42 913.15 
			 Leicester — — — — 315.60 304.88 320.62 
			 London Pension Centre Newcastle — — — — 550.90 591.80 580.35 
			 Motherwell — — — — 498.69 501.23 503.75 
			 Seaham — — — — 400.93 390.69 394.32 
			 Stockport — — — — 599.07 610.57 599.08 
			 Swansea — — — — 590.26 593.08 577.20 
			 Warrington — — — — 554.93 583.19 584.79 
			 Bath — — — — 402.95 346.84 177.13 
			 Birmingham — — — — 374.56 371.38 329.12 
			 Blackpool — — — — 213.05 195.46 101.40 
			 Dearne Valley — — — — 407.00 311.76 242.62 
			 Goole — — — — — 46.55 0.00 
			 National Pension Centre — — — — 946.86 819.88 744.35 
			 Pension Credit Application Line — — — — 8.56 6.70 4.70 
			 Walsall — — — — 268.52 279.48 273.71 
			 Winter Fuel Cardiff — — — — 69.12 65.07 73.33 
			 Management and Central Support — — — — 141.39 131.43 140.87 
			 
			 Jobcentre Plus Contact Centre Directorate(10)
			 Annesley — — — — 110.20 130.92 133.80 
			 Bangor — — — — — 142.66 282.88 
			 Blackburn — — — 64.17 88.78 145.94 162.11 
			 Bootle — — — 47.68 95.47 173.79 193.26 
			 Bridgend — — — 50.96 148.06 311.50 329.04 
			 Caerphilly — — — — 101.60 103.33 123.91 
			 Clydebank — — — — 121.90 135.54 123.17 
			 Coventry — — — 29.68 107.45 191.53 275.74 
			 Derby — — — 47.29 355.71 417.68 454.07 
			 Dundee — — — 189.19 175.57 279.88 282.66 
			 Exeter — — — — 137.60 144.97 171.34 
			 Garston — — — 111.36 126.08 265.07 277.73 
			 Grimsby Europarc — — — — 109.00 119.14 122.46 
			 Grimsby Crown House — — — 56.1 98.03 203.81 229.87 
			 Halifax — — — 148.07 143.81 262.45 268.75 
			 Lincoln — — — 74.65 82.45 214.01 221.18 
			 Liverpool — — — — 108.50 148.34 145.08 
			 Lowestoft — — — 114.04 181.93 230.58 243.66 
			 Marton Mere (Blackpool) — — — 124.27 158.21 204.70 211.13 
			 Middlesbrough — — — 105.59 108.04 288.36 276.77 
			 Preston — — — — 46.40 43.99 50.34 
			 Newcastle — — — 59.7 130.00 226.00 235.22 
			 Paisley — — — 80.8 175.75 193.52 198.16 
			 Pembroke Dock — — — 200.58 205.13 221.78 228.57 
			 Poole — — — 84.76 100.88 163.99 173.35 
			 Sheffield — — — 17.86 72.70 129.28 136.71 
			 Southend — — — — 103.20 123.35 154.59 
			 Taunton — — — 27.69 51.98 141.10 161.88 
			 Telford New Town House — — — 33.5 55.23 176.67 187.11 
			 Telford Plaza — — — — 138.20 141.32 144.13 
			 Torquay — — — 68.68 146.57 207.93 209.20 
			 Group Management and Central Support — — — — 39.56 93.11 112.21 
			 (1) Staff figures as at April each year includes centre managers and support staff. (2) Staff figures not available prior to April 2002 as not retained. (3) CSA staff figures available from August 2001. (4) Staff figures as at 20 March includes all telephony staff. (5) 2007-08 figures as at October 2007. (6) Staff figures as at April each year includes centre managers and support staff. (7) Management and central support staff figures unable to split between centres. Figures provided separately. (8) Staff figures as at 31 March. (9) 2007-08 figures as at October 2007. (10) Group Management and Central support staff figures provided separately and Staff figures as at 1 April each year.

Employment

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the proportion of vacancies in the UK economy that will be filled by British workers in  (a) 2007-08 and  (b) 2008-09.

Caroline Flint: No such estimate has been made.

Employment: New Deal Schemes

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how the flexible New Deal process outlined in "In work, better off: next steps to full employment" will accommodate the adult careers service recommended by Lord Leitch in his report, "Prosperity for all in the global economy—world class skills".

Caroline Flint: The Government's approach to improving adults' skills is set out in both the recent DWP/DIUS publication "Opportunity, Employment and progression: making skills work" and the Green Paper "In-work, better off: next steps to full employment".
	"Opportunity, Employment and progression" sets out how Jobcentre Plus will work collaboratively with the adult advancement and careers service in England and with the equivalent skills services in Scotland and Wales. Skills screening, assessment and development will form an integral part of the activity related to getting a jobseeker into work and progressing where they can. We will combine support for skills development alongside job-search activity to ensure individuals can access the help they need early, taking into account local labour market requirements and the customer's needs and aspirations.
	Our Green Paper proposed measures to tackle an individual's basic skills needs early in a jobseeker's allowance (JSA) claim. Throughout their claim, including any period spent on the flexible new deal, JSA customers will be reminded of the importance of continuing to develop their skills to help them secure longer-term employment. We have recently concluded the consultation on "In-work, better off: next steps to full employment" and will publish a full response soon.

Employment: Vacancies

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will place in the Library the evidential sources for his statement that there are 600,000 vacancies in the economy in each month.

Caroline Flint: The figures are published as part of the Office for National Statistics monthly Labour Market Statistics, in tables 21 and 22 which can be found at:
	www.statistics.gov.uk/statbase/Product.asp?vlnk=13310&More=n
	and
	www.statistics.gov.uk/statbase/Product.asp?vlnk=13311&More=n
	respectively.
	This information is available in the Library.

Housing Benefit: Peterborough

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much was spent on housing benefit in the Peterborough city council area in each month since January 2004.

James Plaskitt: Housing benefit expenditure figures are not available on a monthly basis. The Department receives annual expenditure figures from local authorities via housing and council tax benefit subsidy claim forms.
	The available information is in the following table
	
		
			  Housing benefit expenditure for Peterborough local authority district 
			   £ million 
			 2004-05 32.3 
			 2005-06 36.7 
			 2006-07 40.0 
			  Notes: 1. Information sourced from local authority claims for housing revenue account subsidy and housing benefit subsidy. 2. Figures are rounded to the nearest £100,000. 3. Figures prior to 2006-07 are audited, but may change in future if local authorities' audited accounts are amended after a decision or appeal. Figures for recent years are more likely to be amended than older data. 4. 2006-07 figures are initial final (pre-audited) and are subject to change. 5. From 1999-2000 onwards, housing benefit expenditure on asylum seekers was funded by the National Asylum Support Service, and is therefore excluded from the figures presented at Great Britain. However, local authority level information includes all expenditure on these benefits relating to asylum seekers, as it is not possible to isolate at this level that part which applies to asylum seekers. 6. Figures relate to what local authorities spend on claimants, and include discretionary expenditure (mainly disregards of War Pensions), and overpayments except where benefit has been granted in advance (where the benefit is paid in the form of a rebate).  Source: DWP Benefit expenditure tables. 
		
	
	DWP housing benefit and council tax benefit expenditure tables are available online at:
	http://www.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd4/HBandCTB_expenditure.asp

Jobcentre Plus: Rural Areas

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment his Department has made of the ease of access to Jobcentre Plus in rural areas.

James Plaskitt: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus, Lesley Strathie. I have asked her to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Lesley Strathie, dated 13 December 2007:
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about what assessments his Department has made of the ease of access to Jobcentre Plus in rural areas. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	Jobcentre Plus services are provided not only through the Jobcentre network but also by telephone through the Contact Centre and Benefit Delivery Centre network as well as the internet. This allows all customers to access services regardless of where they live. Where there are issues about customer access to a Jobcentre provision can be made for additional more flexible support arrangements. These include the installation of Jobpoints in libraries, surgeries in third party premises, partnering in Local Authority outlets and, where practical, some mobile services.
	At the inception of Jobcentre Plus in 2002 District Managers developed local service delivery plans in consultation with key stakeholders from the community. This exercise led to the identification of where best to locate our Jobcentre network and where to introduce the additional flexible arrangements referred to above. In developing service delivery plans District Managers had full regard for a range of factors including where people live, the needs of those people, ease and cost of accessing Jobcentres by those communities and the viability of maintaining an outlet or introducing a flexible support arrangement.
	Since the development of those original plans our service provision has been continuously improving, because of advances in telephony and e-channels. These improvements mean that District Managers can review the original plans to ensure that we achieve our aim of providing work for those who can and support for those who cannot in the most efficient and effective manner.
	Devon & Cornwall Jobcentre Plus District, for example, is in the process of reviewing its Service Delivery Plan. This review is being carried out once again in consultation with key stakeholders and their views will be fully considered before decisions are finalised. Access to services for all customers will be a key consideration of that review regardless of where they live.
	I hope this is helpful.

Minimum Wage: Expenditure

Stephen Byers: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the effect on his Department's expenditure on benefits which would arise from an increase in the national minimum wage to £6.75 per hour.

James Plaskitt: No such estimate has been made.

National Insurance: Foreigners

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many national insurance numbers have been issued to non-EU foreign nationals in each quarter since 1 January 2004; and what the percentage change was between each  (a) year and  (b) quarter.

James Plaskitt: The available information from National Statistics is in the following table.
	
		
			  National insurance numbers allocated to non-EU nationals entering the UK 
			  Year of registration  Number  Percentage change from previous year 
			 2003-04 256,300 2.6 
			 2004-05 238,700 -6.9 
			 2005-06 287,500 20.4 
			 2006-07 288,100 0.2 
			  Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest hundred. Some additional disclosure control has been applied. 2. Percentages are rounded to one decimal place. 3. Years referred to are financial years. Reliable quarterly estimates from National Statistics are not currently available. 4. Figures exclude cases where nationality is unknown. 5. Figures are produced from section four of the 2007 'NINO allocations to Overseas Nationals Entering the UK' report http://www.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd1/niall/niall_report.pdf  Source: 100 per cent. extract from national insurance recording system at 14 May 2007

National Insurance: Romania

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many national insurance numbers have been issued to  (a) Romanian and  (b) Bulgarian citizens in each quarter since 5 April 2002.

James Plaskitt: The available information from National Statistics is in the following table.
	
		
			  National insurance numbers allocated to Bulgarian and Romanian nationals entering the UK 
			  Year of registration  Bulgaria  Romania 
			 2002-03 3,990 1,880 
			 2003-04 5,160 3,170 
			 2004-05 4,490 3,290 
			 2005-06 2,810 2,860 
			 2006-07 3,080 4,360 
			  Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest ten. Some additional disclosure control has been applied. 2. Years referred to are financial years. Reliable quarterly estimates from National Statistics are not currently available.  Source: 100 percent. extract from national insurance recording system at 14 May 2007

New Deal for Young People: Suffolk

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in Suffolk registered for new deal for young people in each of the last five years.

Caroline Flint: The requested information is in the following table.
	
		
			  Starts to new deal for young people in Suffolk 
			   Number of starts 
			 2002 1,140 
			 2003 1,310 
			 2004 1,250 
			 2005 1,150 
			 2006 1,530 
			  Notes: 1. The county of Suffolk comprises the local authorities of: Babergh; Forest Heath; Ipswich; Mid Suffolk; St. Edmundsbury; Suffolk Coastal and Waveney. 2. Years are calendar years. 3. Latest complete year data are for 2006 4. All figures have been rounded to the nearest 10.  Source: Information Directorate, Department for Work and Pensions.

New Deal Schemes

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which groups of benefits claimants will be fast tracked to the gateway stage of flexible New Deal under the proposals outlined in "In work, better off: next steps to full employment".

Caroline Flint: The Green Paper proposed that the criteria for fast tracking customers to the Gateway stage of flexible new deal would be based on benefit history and those with long recent durations on jobseeker's allowance (JSA) would be mandated to it. Other customers would be able to volunteer for early referral to the Gateway if they are in a recognised disadvantaged group. The flexible new deal would be for JSA customers only.
	We have recently concluded our consultation on "In-work, better off: next steps to full employment" and will publish our full response soon.

New Deal Schemes

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether all strands of current New Deal programmes will be subsumed into flexible New Deal under the proposals outlined in "In work, better off: next steps to full employment".

Caroline Flint: In the Green Paper "In-work, better off: next steps to full employment", we set out our proposals for the flexible new deal. Our proposals are that the flexible new deal would replace the existing mandatory new deal for young people (NDYP) and new deal 25-plus (ND25+) programmes, and would be for jobseeker's allowance (JSA) customers only. The funding for the new deal for musicians, which is offered through NDYP and ND25+, would be incorporated into the flexible new deal.
	It is intended that the flexible new deal will look very different to these programmes and will respond more flexibly to individual needs; providers may draw on experiences from the activity offered in the current mandatory new deal programmes but would be able to develop and offer other initiatives as well.
	The voluntary new deals are open to customers across benefit groups. Under flexible new deal, there would be some changes to the way the additional support available through flexible new deal applies to jobseeker's allowance (JSA) customers on these programmes.
	New deal 50-plus would continue in its present form for non-JSA customers. The support currently offered to JSA customers through new deal 50-plus would be replaced by the additional employment and skills support and activity requirements at the six-month Gateway stage of flexible new deal.
	New deal for lone parents would continue to support JSA customers as now. New deal for partners would offer additional work-focused interviews from April 2008 where there are dependent children.
	The new deal for disabled people (NDDP) is not available to JSA customers and so would be unaffected by the introduction of the flexible new deal.
	We have recently concluded the consultation on "In work, better off: next steps to full employment" and will publish a full response soon.

New Deal Schemes

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how the flexible New Deal programme proposed in "In work, better off: next steps to full employment" will affect the delivery of the city strategy in pathfinder areas.

Caroline Flint: As with the Department's existing employment programmes, wherever there are local initiatives, Jobcentre Plus and providers operating within the flexible new deal will make best use of the opportunities they offer to improve the employability and job outcomes of unemployed people.

Poverty: Children

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many children there were in families in work earning less than the average national weekly income in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: holding answer 4 December 2007
	The available information is in the following tables.
	
		
			  Table A: number (million) and percentage of children in families in work with income less than the average national weekly income in each year since 1997 
			   Number of children living in families in work with income below contemporary median income (before housing costs)  Number of children living in families in work  Percentage of children living in families in work with income below contemporary median income (before housing costs) 
			 1996-97 4.7 9.7 49 
			 1997-98 5.1 10.0 51 
			 1998-99 5.2 10.0 51 
			 1999-2000 5.1 10.1 51 
			 2000-01 5.1 10.1 51 
			 2001-02 5.2 10.1 52 
			 2002-03 5.4 10.5 51 
			 2003-04 5.3 10.4 51 
			 2004-05 5.5 10.4 52 
			 2005-06 5.4 10.4 52 
			  Source: Family Resources Survey 
		
	
	
		
			  Table B: number of children (million) in families in work with income below 60 per cent of contemporary median income in each year since 1997 
			   Number of children living in families in work with income below 60 per cent of contemporary median income (before housing costs)  Number of children living in families in work  Percentage of children living in families in work with income below 60 per cent of contemporary median income (before housing costs) 
			 1996-97 1.4 9.7 15 
			 1997-98 1.6 10.0 16 
			 1998-99 1.5 10.0 15 
			 1999-2000 1.5 10.1 15 
			 2000-01 1.3 10.1 13 
			 2001-02 1.4 10.1 13 
			 2002-03 1.4 10.5 13 
			 2003-04 1.3 10.4 13 
			 2004-05 1.3 10.4 13 
			 2005-06 1.4 10.4 14 
			  Notes: 1. The information shown is for Great Britain up to 2001-02 and for the United Kingdom for 2002-03 onwards. 2. The figures are based on OECD equivalisation factors and will therefore not be the same as any figures previously published that were based on McClements equivalisation factors. 3. The income measures used to derive the estimates shown employ the same methodology as the Department for Work and Pensions publication 'Households Below Average Income' series, which uses disposable household income, adjusted for household size and composition, as an income measure as a proxy for standard of living. 4. Table A uses contemporary median income, a different measure to the Government's preferred poverty measure, to measure national average weekly income. Table B uses the Government's preferred measure of relative low income poverty, defined as being the number of children living in families with a household income of less than 60 per cent. of the contemporary median income. This is an internationally recognised measure. 5. The tables show numbers rounded to the nearest 100,000, and percentages based on unrounded source data rounded to the nearest whole per cent. 6. Families have been defined as working if at least one adult (living in the family) is in at least part-time work.  Source: Family Resources Survey

Unemployed: Children

Terry Rooney: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what guidance has been issued to Jobcentre Plus on the circumstances in which availability and affordability of childcare is to be taken into account in assessing a claimant's availability for work.

Caroline Flint: holding answer 4 December 2007
	 Guidance is issued to Jobcentres about the action to take when doubts arise as to whether the jobseeker is available for work. Jobcentres will refer the doubts to an independent decision maker who will determine whether availability and affordability of child care is to be taken into account.

TREASURY

11 Downing Street

Chris Grayling: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  on which dates in 2006 the facilities at 11 Downing Street were used by outside charitable bodies to hold events; and which charities held each event;
	(2)  whether charities organising events at 11 Downing Street are required to submit guest lists in advance for each event;
	(3)  how many people attended events organised by charities at 11 Downing Street during 2006;
	(4)  how much was paid by charities for use of 11 Downing Street in  (a) 2006-07 and  (b) 2007-08 to date;
	(5)  whether charities using facilities at 11 Downing Street may charge admission fees for those events;
	(6)  what the  (a) date and  (b) purpose was of each event held at No. 11 Downing Street by or in conjunction with the Smith Institute in the last 24 months or the nearest period for which records are available;
	(7)  what records his Department holds of charitable events that were organised or hosted by his Department, including those held at No. 11 Downing Street, where donations were raised for the charity;
	(8)  if he will place in the Library a copy of the guest list of each Smith Institute event held at No. 11 Downing Street between 1 January and 27 June.

Angela Eagle: holding answer 22 November 2007
	 The relevant information is disclosed on the Treasury Freedom of Information website
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/about/information/foi_disclosures/2007/foi_no11_2007.cfm
	Details of receptions held by charities in 11 Downing street in 2007-08 will be given to Parliament before the House rises for the summer recess.

Carbon Markets Expert Group

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer who the members are of HM Treasury's Carbon Markets Expert group.

Angela Eagle: The Carbon Markets Experts group is intended to use the knowledge and the skills of the private sector to act as a sounding board for the Treasury, and to discuss ways of enhancing and developing the global carbon market. The membership of the group is currently being finalised and invitations will be issued shortly.

Child Benefit

Bob Russell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of paying the carer of twins, triplets or higher multiple births  (a) the higher level of child benefit and  (b) the baby element of tax credit for each child.

Jane Kennedy: The annual extra cost in 2007-08 of paying the eldest child rate of child benefit in respect of multiple birth children is estimated to be approximately £50 million.
	This other requested information is available only at a disproportionate cost.

Child Benefit: Databases

Dai Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which civil service grades have permission to download to CD-ROM information on the child benefit database at HM Revenue and Customs; what checks they are required to undertake; which protection mechanisms they should use; and what evaluation he has made of the suitability of current arrangements for such data transfer.

Jane Kennedy: On 20 November the Chancellor announced an independent review of HMRC's data handling procedures to be conducted by Kieran Poynter, the chair of PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Child Benefit: EU Nationals

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what the evidential basis was for his estimate that 14,000 A8 nationals in the UK claim child benefit in respect of children living abroad, as referred to in the answer of 10 September 2007,  Official Report, column 1968W, on child benefit: EU nationals; and what sources of information he used to make the estimate;
	(2)  upon what data his Department's estimates of the number of child benefit claims made by A8 nationals in respect of children living abroad are made.

Jane Kennedy: This information is based on information collected by the Child Benefit Office as part of a database maintained for the accession monitoring report, last published on 20 November 2007
	http://www.bia.homeoffice.gov.uk/aboutus/reports/accession_monitoring_report

Child Benefit: Personal Records

James Brokenshire: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent estimate he has made of the number of  (a) taxpayers and  (b) recipients of tax credits or pension credits whose personal details have been misdirected or mislaid by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) or may otherwise be at risk of becoming victims of identity theft due to error or omission by HMRC; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 26 November 2007
	The police continue to have no reason to believe that this data have found their way into the wrong hands or have been used for fraudulent purposes or criminal activity.
	For details of the data mislaid by HMRC, I refer the hon. member to the statement given in the House by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 20 November 2007,  Official Report, columns 1101-04.
	On 20 November the Chancellor announced an independent review of HMRC's data handling procedures to be conducted by Kieran Poynter, the chair of PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Child Benefit: Personal Records

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what security procedures are in place governing the transport of discs and documents containing personal tax related information.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 26 November 2007
	On 13 November HMRC initiated immediate increased security with a new three step process:
	transfers will now only take place if they are absolutely necessary;
	written authorization for the transfer has to be given by senior HMRC manager; and,
	a clear instruction has been given regarding the appropriate standard of protection for the transfer.
	Where directors decide that a data transfer by disc is unavoidable such media must, in every case, be securely encrypted at the appropriate level.
	On 20 November the Chancellor announced an independent review of HMRC's data handling procedures to be conducted by Kieran Poynter, the chair of PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Child Benefit: Personal Records

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate his Department has made of the number of disks containing data protected by the Data Protection Act that were sent to the National Audit Office by  (a) (i) recorded and (ii) non-recorded delivery and  (b) (A) Government, (B) private and (C) Royal Mail systems in each of the last two years.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 26 November 2007
	The information could be provided only at disproportionate costs.
	On 20 November the Chancellor announced an independent review of HMRC's data handling procedures to be conducted by Kieran Poynter, the chair of PricewaterhouseCoopers.
	The full terms of reference for that review are available on the HM Treasury website at http://www.hm- treasury.gov.uk/newsroom_and_speeches/press/2007/press_133_0 7.cfm and a copy has been placed in the Library of the House.

Child Benefit: Personal Records

Philip Dunne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which version of which computer software was used for the Child Benefit database within HM Revenue and Customs  (a) in March 2007 and  (b) in October 2007.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 27 November 2007
	There is an ongoing police investigation and it would not be appropriate to comment on these issues.

Child Benefit: Personal Records

Philip Dunne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what level of password to access the Child Benefit database within HM Revenue and Customs was capable of being encrypted.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 27 November 2007
	The location of the missing data disks is the subject of an ongoing police investigation. It would therefore not be appropriate to comment on these issues.
	On 20 November, the Chancellor announced an independent review of HMRC's data handling procedures to be conducted by Kieran Poynter, the chair of PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Child Benefit: Personal Records

Nigel Evans: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate HM Revenue and Customs made of the cost of de-sensitising the data held on the Child Benefit database prior to its transfer to the National Audit Office in March 2007.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 27 November 2007
	 I refer the hon. Member to the statement given in the House by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 20 November 2007,  Official Report, columns 1101-04.
	On 20 November the Chancellor announced an independent review of HMRC's data handling procedures to be conducted by Kieran Poynter, chair of PricewaterhouseCoopers, will investigate HMRC's security processes and procedures for data handling.
	The full terms of reference for that review are available on the HM Treasury website at:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/newsroom_and_speeches/press/2007/press_133_07.cfm
	and a copy has been placed in the Library of the House.

Child Benefit: Personal Records

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer by what process an IT operator could have extracted data from the HM Revenue and Customs child benefit database in the form requested by the National Audit Office.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 28 November 2007
	 I refer the hon. Member to the statement given in the House by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 20 November 2007  Official Report, columns 1101-04.
	On 20 November, the Chancellor announced an independent review of HMRC's data handling procedures to be conducted by Kieran Poynter, chair of PricewaterhouseCoopers.
	The full terms of reference for that review are available on the HM Treasury website at:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/newsroom_and_speeches/press/2007/press_133_07.cfm
	and a copy has been placed in the Library of the House.

Child Benefit: Personal Records

David Gauke: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what personal data in relation to child benefit awards were provided to KPMG as part of the National Audit Office's 2006-07 resource accounts audit for HM Revenue and Customs.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 28 November 2007
	 This is a matter for the National Audit Office and the hon. Member may wish to write to the Comptroller and Auditor General about it.

Child Benefit: Personal Records

Anne Main: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he plans to take to help alleviate concerns of child benefit recipients whose data were lost by HM Revenue and Customs on possible use of the data by third parties to establish contact with minors.

Jane Kennedy: My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer said in his original statement to the House of Commons on the data loss issue, 20 November 2007,  Official Report, columns 1101-04, that police continue to have no reason to believe that the data have fallen into the wrong hands. The Acting Chairman of HMRC has also written to all customers affected to reassure those affected. The Government are continuing to discuss the broader implications of the incident with a range of organisations, and has considered appropriate steps to manage any risks resulting from the unlikely event that these data fall into the wrong hands.

Child Benefit: Personal Records

David Amess: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what occasions discs containing personal data were lost by HM Revenue and Customs and its predecessors in each year since 1997; and whether in each case the data were  (a) subsequently found and  (b) considered (i) lost and (ii) stolen.

Jane Kennedy: On 20 November the Chancellor announced an independent review of HMRC's data handling procedures to be conducted by Kieran Poynter, the Chair of PricewaterhouseCoopers. The full terms of reference for that review are available on the HM Treasury website at http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/newsroom_and_speeches/press/2007/press_133_07.cfm and a copy has been placed in the Library of the House.

Child Benefit: Personal Records

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many families in Wales had their data downloaded onto the discs that have gone missing from HM Revenue and Customs.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 3 December 2007
	 The missing information contains details of all child benefit recipients: including those in Wales.
	Information on families receiving child benefit at 31 August 2006 nationally and by country are published as part of National Statistics and can be found in table 1 of Child Benefit Statistics Geographical Analysis which are available on HMRC's website at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/child_benefit/geog-aug06.pdf

Child Benefit: Personal Records

Jim Cousins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what extra security measures have been put in place as a result of the recent loss of data sent between HM Revenue and Customs and Standard Life; what review of procedures was undertaken at HM Revenue and Customs following the loss of data in transit; what recommendations were made; what steps were taken; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 6 December 2007
	 On 20 November 2007 the Chancellor announced an independent review of HMRC's data handling procedures to be conducted by Kieran Poynter, the Chair of PricewaterhouseCoopers.
	The full terms of reference for that review are available on the HM Treasury website at:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/newsroom_and_speeches/press/2007/press_13_3_07.cfm
	and a copy has been placed in the Library of the House.

Child Benefit: Personal Records

Ben Wallace: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether HM Revenue and Customs data consisting of  (a) names and addresses of tax credit and child benefit claimants,  (b) bank account details of such claimants and  (c) a combination of names and addresses and bank account details are given a protective marking in accordance with the manual of protective security.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 6 December 2007
	On 20 November, the Chancellor announced an independent review of HMRC's data handling procedures to be conducted by Kieran Poynter, the chair of PricewaterhouseCoopers.
	The full terms of reference for that review are available on the HM Treasury website at:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/newsroom_and_speeches/press/2007/press_133_07.cfm
	and a copy has been placed in the Library of the House.

Child Benefit: Personal Records

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on how many occasions data from the child benefit database have been posted to recipients outside HM Revenue and Customs in the last 12 months.

Jane Kennedy: On 20 November the Chancellor announced an independent review of HMRC's data handling procedures to be conducted by Kieran Poynter, the chair of PricewaterhouseCoopers.
	The full terms of reference for that review are available on the HM Treasury website at:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/newsroom_and_speeches/press/2007/press_133_07.cfm
	and a copy has been placed in the Library of the House.

Child Benefit: Personal Records

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the statement of 20 November 2007,  Official Report, columns 1110-18, on HM Revenue and Customs, how many HM Revenue and Customs staff have been interviewed regarding the two missing discs.

Jane Kennedy: The location of the missing data discs is the subject of an ongoing police investigation and it is not appropriate to comment on any aspect of their inquiries.

Child Benefit: Personal Records

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the statement of 20 November 2007,  Official Report, columns 1110-18, on HM Revenue and Customs, how many discrete physical searches for the two missing discs were conducted  (a) between 10 November and 14 November inclusive and  (b) after 14 November; what premises and facilities these covered; and how many personnel were deployed.

Jane Kennedy: The search for the missing data disks is the subject of an ongoing police investigation and it is not appropriate to comment on issues which might form part of that investigation

Child Benefit: Telephone Services

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many staff worked on HM Revenue and Custom's Child Benefit Helpline on each day since 1 October 2007.

Jane Kennedy: The answer is not available in the format requested. However during the period 1 November 2006 to 31 October 2007 it is estimated that an average of around 380 full time equivalent staff were employed as advisers on the child benefit helpline. HMRC keeps the demand on the child benefit helpline under constant review and has the flexibility to adjust resource as and when needed.

Child Benefit: Telephone Services

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many calls were handled by the Child Benefit Helpline on each day between 22 November and 6 December 2007 inclusive.

Jane Kennedy: The following table provides HMRC's best current estimate of calls handled by the Child Benefit Helpline on each day from 22 November until 6 December 2007 inclusively.
	
		
			  Date  Calls handled 
			 22 November 2007 21,080 
			 23 November 2007 14,786 
			 24 November 2007 4,742 
			 25 November 2007 1,301 
			 26 November 2007 25,041 
			 27 November 007 24,873 
			 28 November 2007 19,479 
			 29 November 2007 19,722 
			 30 November 2007 18,031 
			 1 December 2007 4,838 
			 2 December 2007 1,472 
			 3 December 2007 23,628 
			 4 December 2007 25,551 
			 5 December 2007 18,888 
			 6 December 2007 16,185

Christmas

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it is his Department's policy to use  (a) incandescent light bulbs and  (b) LED lights for festive decorations on departmental premises.

Angela Eagle: LED lights are used on the Christmas tree supplied by the PFI provider in 1HGR.

Christmas

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his Department's policy is on the selection of  (a) real and  (b) artificial Christmas trees for his Department's festive decorations; and how real trees are disposed of.

Angela Eagle: A real Christmas tree is supplied by the PFI provider for 1 Horse Guards Road. The tree will be removed subsequently and chipped and the material then used on flower beds.

Data Protection

Nigel Evans: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what additional training has been provided in the last two weeks to the staff of HM Revenue and Customs on the safe handling of data to counteract identity theft and other data breaches.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 6 December 2007
	On 13 November, HMRC initiated immediate increased security.
	I refer the hon. Member to my remarks to the House, on 28 November 2007,  Official Report, column 344, which set out the three key steps HMRC staff must now follow before transmitting bulk data.
	On 20 November, the Chancellor announced an independent review of HMRC's data handling procedures to be conducted by Kieran Poynter, chair of PricewaterhouseCoopers, will investigate HMRC's security processes and procedures for data handling.
	The full terms of reference for that review are available on the HM Treasury website at:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/newsroom_and_speeches/press/2007/press_133_07.cfm
	and a copy has been placed in the Library of the House.
	The review will cover the steps that should be taken to ensure any further measures are adhered to consistently by all staff.

Departmental Data Protection

Keith Vaz: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what procedures are in place in his Department to ensure that personal information relating to members of the public is  (a) stored and  (b) transported securely.

Jane Kennedy: I refer the hon. Member to the statement made by right hon. friend the Prime Minister on 21 November 2007,  Official Report, column 1179. The review by the Cabinet Secretary and security experts is looking at procedures within Departments and agencies for the storage and use of data. A statement on Departments' procedures will be made on completion of the review.
	On 13 November HMRC initiated immediate increased security with a new process:
	transfers will now only take place if they are absolutely necessary;
	written authorisation for the transfer has to be given by senior HMRC manager; and,
	a clear instruction has been given regarding the appropriate standard of protection for the transfer.
	Where directors decide that a data transfer by disc is unavoidable such media must, in every case, be securely encrypted at the appropriate level.
	On 20 November the Chancellor announced an independent review of HMRC's data handling procedures to be conducted by Kieran Poynter, the chair of PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Departmental Data Protection

David Gauke: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many discs containing personal data were lost in total by HM Revenue and Customs and its predecessors in the latest year for which figures are available.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 27 November 2007
	 On 20 November the Chancellor announced an independent review of HMRC's data handling procedures to be conducted by Kieran Poynter, the chair of PricewaterhouseCoopers.
	The full terms of reference for that review are available on the HM Treasury website at
	<http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/newsroom_and_speeches/press/2007/press_133_07.cfm>
	and a copy has been placed in the Library of the House.

Departmental Data Protection

Tom Brake: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he proposes to review how his Department transports data; and whether his Department uses TNT to transport data.

Jane Kennedy: The loss of the discs is subject to an ongoing investigation and it would be inappropriate to comment further.
	On 20 November the Chancellor announced an independent review of HMRC's data handling procedures to be conducted by Kieran Poynter, the Chair of PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Departmental Data Protection

David Amess: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people of each grade have  (a) partial and  (b) full access to data held by (i) his Department and (ii) HM Revenue and Customs on child benefit recipients; what guidance his Department issues to persons seeking access to those data; and if he will make a statement;

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what mechanisms his Department has in place to ensure that its databases containing personal information on members of the public are not accessed by  (a) unauthorised staff and  (b) authorised staff for unauthorised purposes.

Jane Kennedy: On 20 November the Chancellor announced an independent review of HMRC's data handling procedures to be conducted by Kieran Poynter, the chair of PricewaterhouseCoopers.
	The full terms of reference for that review are available on the HM Treasury website at http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/newsroom_and_speeches/press/2007/press_133_07.cfm and a copy has been placed in the Library of the House.

Departmental Databases

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many staff of each grade have access to electronic databases in his Department which contain personal information on members of the public.

Jane Kennedy: On 20 November, the Chancellor announced an independent review of HMRC's security processes and procedures for data handling, to be conducted by Kieran Poynter, the Chair of PricewaterhouseCoopers. The full terms of reference for that review are available on the HM Treasury website at: http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/newsroom_ and_speeches/press/2007/press_133_07.cfm and a copy has been placed in the Library of the House

Departmental Databases

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many times databases in his Department containing personal information on members of the public were accessed in each month of the last five years.

Jane Kennedy: On 20 November the Chancellor announced an independent review of HMRC's data handling procedures to be conducted by Kieran Poynter, the chair of PricewaterhouseCoopers.
	The full terms of reference for that review are available on the HM Treasury website at http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/newsroom_and_speeches/press/2007/press_133_07.cfm and a copy has been placed in the Library of the House.

Departmental Databases

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many times databases in his Department containing personal information on members of the public were transferred  (a) physically and  (b) electronically in each year since 1997.

Jane Kennedy: This information is not available.

Departmental Databases

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many requests his Department received from the National Audit Office for access to its databases containing personal information on members of the public in each year since 1997.

Jane Kennedy: The information requested could be made available only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Telephone Services

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 6 December 2007 , Official Report, column 1492W, on departmental telephone services, if he will provide the information his Department holds on the costs of each of its contact centres.

Jane Kennedy: The requested information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Visits Abroad

David Simpson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much his Department spent on overnight accommodation for Ministers overseas in the last year.

Angela Eagle: Details of the cost of overseas travel, including the cost of travel and accommodation are contained in the Overseas Travel by Cabinet Ministers list. The latest list for the period 1 April 2006 to 31 March 2007 was published on 25 July 2007. Details for the 2007-08 financial year will be published as soon as possible after the end of the financial year. All travel is undertaken in accordance with the Ministerial Code.

Economic and Monetary Union

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent assessment he has made of UK performance against the five economic tests for entry to the euro; and if he will make a statement.

Kitty Ussher: The Government's policy on membership of the single currency is unchanged. It remains as set out by the former Chancellor in his statement to the House of Commons in October 1997, and again in the statement on the five tests assessment in June 2003.
	The June 2003 statement on UK membership of the European single currency set out a reform agenda of concrete and practical steps to address the policy requirements identified by the 2003 assessment. The former Chancellor committed the Government to an annual review of progress.
	The former Chancellor announced in Budget 2007 that,
	"the Government does not propose a euro assessment to be initiated at the time of this budget."
	The Treasury will again review the situation at Budget time next year as required by the June 2003 statement.

Minimum Wage

Stephen Byers: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what his estimate is of the  (a) reductions in tax credit expenditure and  (b) additional taxation and national insurance revenue which would result from an increase in the national minimum wage to £6.75 per hour.

Jane Kennedy: Changes in expenditure and revenue are not only dependent on the level of the national minimum wage, but also the macroeconomic effects of an increase to the national minimum wage.
	It is not possible to reliably estimate the impact that increasing the minimum wage to £6.75 per hour would have. Such a large increase at one time would be likely to jeopardise employment and inflation.

Perinatal Mortality

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many stillbirths there were as a percentage of all births in the UK in each of the last 10 years.

Angela Eagle: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Colin Mowl, dated 13 December 2007:
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many stillbirths there were as a percentage of all births in the UK in-each of the last 10 years. I am replying in her absence. (173968)
	The table below shows the number of stillbirths, and stillbirths as a percentage of all births in the UK, 1997 to 2006.
	
		
			  Number of stillbirths and stillbirths as a percentage of all births, United Kingdom, 1997-2006 
			  Year  No. of stillbirths  Stillbirths as % of all births( 1) 
			 1997 3,889 0.53 
			 1998 3,890 0.54 
			 1999 3,723 0.53 
			 2000 3,594 0.53 
			 2001 3,572 0.53 
			 2002 3,772 0.56 
			 2003 4,016 0.57 
			 2004 4,116 0.57 
			 2005 3,864 0.53 
			 2006 3.987 0.53 
			 (1) All births includes live births and stillbirths.

Population: Staffordshire

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the population is of  (a) Staffordshire and  (b) Tamworth constituency, broken down by age group; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Eagle: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 13 December 2007:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your question asking what the population is of (a) Staffordshire and (b) Tamworth constituency, broken down by age group (173078).
	The attached table, Table 1a, shows the population by quinary age group for Staffordshire for mid-2005 and mid-2006. Table 1b shows the population by quinary age group for Tamworth constituency for mid-2005. These are the latest population estimates available.
	
		
			  Table 1a: Population estimates for Staffordshire by quinary age group for mid-2005 and mid-2006 
			  Thousand 
			  Mid-year  All ages  0-4  5-9  10-14  15-19  20-24  25-29  30-34  35-39  40-44 
			 2005 821 43 48 52 53 47 41 52 63 64 
			 2006 823 43 47 51 54 48 41 49 62 65 
		
	
	
		
			  Thousand 
			  Mid-year  45-49  50-54  55-59  60-64  65-69  70-74  75-79  80-84  85+ 
			 2005 57 54 61 50 41 34 27 20 15 
			 2006 59 54 60 52 42 34 28 20 16 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 1 b : Population estimates for  Tamworth parliamentary constituency  by quinary age group for mid-2005 
			  Thousand 
			  Mid-year  All ages  0-4  5-9  10-14  15-19  20-24  25-29  30-34  35-39  40-44 
			 2005 93 5 6 6 6 6 5 6 7 7 
		
	
	
		
			  Thousand 
			  Mid-year  45-49  50-54  55-59  60-64  65-69  70-74  75-79  80-84  85+ 
			 2005 6 6 7 5 4 3 2 2 1 
			  Note: Data are rounded to the nearest 100 and therefore may not add due to rounding.  Source: Office for National Statistics.

Public Expenditure

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what  (a) the lowest rate of economic return is on an approved existing Government expenditure project in each Government Department and  (b) the size of the approved expenditure in each case.

Angela Eagle: Spending projects are appraised within each Government Department according to the guidance contained in "The Green Book: Appraisal and Evaluation in Central Government." The Government use a discount rate of 3.5 per cent. in real terms in central Government appraisals to produce net present value figures which are used in support of decision making. Records of projected net present values are not centrally collected and the cost of supplying this information is considered prohibitive.

Revenue and Customs: Civil Proceedings

Philip Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on how many occasions legal proceedings have been instigated against HM Revenue and Customs for alleged offences not directly related to assessing tax liabilities, administering the tax system or the collection of tax.

Jane Kennedy: Since its formation HM Revenue and Customs has not been prosecuted for any offences.

Revenue and Customs: Civil Proceedings

Philip Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what occasions court proceedings, now completed, have been instigated against HM Revenue and Customs in the last three years.

Jane Kennedy: The information requested is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate expense.
	I refer the hon. Gentleman to my answer of 23 October 2007,  Official Report, column 252W.

Revenue and Customs: Data Protection

Keith Vaz: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what standard procedure is used at HM Revenue and Customs for the transportation of personal information outside secure offices;
	(2)  how many copies are routinely made of personal information by HM Revenue and Customs when dealing with a case;
	(3)  how many CDs that carry information on members of the public have been mislaid by HM Revenue and Customs in the last 10 years;

Jane Kennedy: On 20 November, the Chancellor announced an independent review of HMRC's data handling procedures to be conducted by Kieran Poynter, the chair of PricewaterhouseCoopers.
	The full terms of reference for that review are available on the HM Treasury website at:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/newsroom_and_speeches/press/2007/press_133_07.cfm
	and a copy has been placed in the Library of the House.

Revenue and Customs: Data Protection

Keith Vaz: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how CDs are identified as carrying secure personal information by HM Revenue and Customs.

Jane Kennedy: The location of the missing data discs is the subject of an ongoing police investigation. On 20 November, the Chancellor announced an independent review of HMRC's security processes and procedures for data handling, to be conducted by Kieran Poynter, the chair of PricewaterhouseCoopers.
	The full terms of reference for that review are available on the HM Treasury website at:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/newsroom_and_speeches/press/2007/press_133_07.cfm
	and a copy has been placed in the Library of the House.

Revenue and Customs: Data Protection

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) have dispatched discs containing confidential data to solicitors dealing with HMRC prosecutions in the same package as the access password over the last three years.

Jane Kennedy: It would be inappropriate to comment on this issue as there is an ongoing police investigation.
	On 20 November the Chancellor announced an independent review of HMRC's data handling procedures to be conducted by Kieran Poynter, the chair of PricewaterhouseCoopers.
	The full terms of reference for that review are available on the HM Treasury website at:
	<http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/newsroom_and_speeches/press/2007/press_133_07.cfm>
	and a copy has been placed in the Library of the House.

Revenue and Customs: Data Protection

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of security measures taken by HM Revenue and Customs in respect of the transportation of discs containing  (a) confidential and  (b) personal data.

Jane Kennedy: The loss of the discs is subject to an ongoing Police investigation and it would be inappropriate to comment further.
	On 20 November the Chancellor announced an independent review of HMRC's data handling procedures to be conducted by Kieran Poynter, the chair of PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Revenue and Customs: Data Protection

Simon Burns: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the cost of removing the data which was not required by the National Audit Office from the discs that recently went missing from HM Revenue and Customs.

Jane Kennedy: I refer the hon. Member to the statement given in the House by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 20 November 2007,  Official Report, columns 1101-04.
	On 20 November, the Chancellor announced an independent review of HMRC's data handling procedures to be conducted by Kieran Poynter, chair of PricewaterhouseCoopers.
	The full terms of reference for that review are available on the HM Treasury website at: http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/newsroom_and_speeches/press/2007/press_133_07.cfm and a copy has been placed in the Library of the House.

Revenue and Customs: Data Protection

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what systems HM Revenue and Customs has in place to track deliveries placed with mail carriers.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 3 December 2007
	 On 20 November 2007 the Chancellor announced an independent review of HMRC's data handling procedures to be conducted by Kieran Poynter, the Chair of PricewaterhouseCoopers.
	The full terms of reference for that review are available on the HM Treasury website at:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/newsroom_and_speeches/press/2007/press_133_07.cfm
	and a copy has been placed in the Library of the House.

Revenue and Customs: Data Protection

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what systems are in place within HM Revenue and Customs to flag up suspicious use of data by its employees;
	(2)  what internal policies HM Revenue and Customs had in place regarding the use of removable media on 18 October 2007.

Jane Kennedy: On 20 November the Chancellor announced an independent review of HMRC's data handling procedures to be conducted by Kieran Poynter, the chair of PricewaterhouseCoopers.
	The full terms of reference for that review are available on the HM Treasury website at:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/newsroom_and_speeches/press/2007/press_133_07.cfm
	and a copy has been placed in the Library of the House.

Revenue and Customs: Sick Leave

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many sick days were taken by Tax Credit Office staff in each of the last 12 months; and what the average number of sick days was per staff member in each of those months.

Jane Kennedy: The information requested is given in the following table:
	
		
			  Tax credit office 
			   Full-time equivalent days taken  Average working days lost 
			 October 2006 4,239.62 1.17 
			 November 2006 3,870.84 1.17 
			 December 2006 3,125.31 0.96 
			 January 2007 4,037.03 1.24 
			 February 2007 3,724.54 1.16 
			 March 2007 3,346.64 1.07 
			 April 2007 4,235.74 0.86 
			 May 2007 5,146.76 1.05 
			 June 2007 5,053.19 1.05 
			 July 2007 5,482.22 1.16 
			 August 2007 5,446.68 1.16 
			 September 2007 4,653.60 0.99 
			 Year 52,362.17 12.95

Self-employed: Tamworth

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average income of a self-employed person in  (a) Tamworth constituency and  (b) the UK was in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Eagle: The mean self-employment income of taxpayers in the constituency of Tamworth can be found in table 3.15 "Income and tax by parliamentary constituency" on the HM Revenue and Customs website at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/income_distribution/menu-by-year.htm#315.
	These tables are only available for 2003-04 and 2004-05 and are based on the Survey of Personal Incomes.
	The mean total income of people in the UK with self-employment sources of income is shown in 3.10 "Income of individuals with self employment sources, by range of self employment income and source" on the HM Revenue and customs website at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/income_distribution/menu-by-year.htm#310
	The tables are based on the Survey of Personal Incomes and are available for 1999-2000 to 2000-5. Information for earlier years can be found in the annual Inland Revenue Statistics publications available in the Library.

Trading Funds

Mark Prisk: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to publish the findings of the review of trading funds commissioned from Cambridge University.

Andy Burnham: The Government will publish the analysis undertaken by Cambridge university on the definition and charging models for the public information held by trading funds in the new year.

Welfare Tax Credits: Overpayments

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 6 December 2007,  Official Report, columns 1500-01W, on welfare tax credits, how many tax credit overpayments have been written off  (a) in total and  (b) in part since 2003 due to exceptional circumstances; and what the reasons were in each case.

Jane Kennedy: The value of overpayments remitted on the grounds of hardship is compiled annually to the end of October and shown in the following table. Figures cannot be disaggregated into instances of total and partial write offs.
	
		
			   Number of cases  Amount remitted  ( £000 ) 
			 2004 0 0 
			 2005 437 287 
			 2006 134 148

Welfare Tax Credits: Overpayments

Lady Hermon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many cases of overpaid tax credit where a joint award was made but the couple have since separated there have been where HM Revenue and Customs has sought recovery from  (a) one and  (b) both partners in each year since 2003.

Jane Kennedy: At April 2007 there were about 270,000 claims originally made by couples, who are recorded as having split up by that date, and for which there were outstanding undisputed overpayments over £10 for 2003-04, 2004-05 or 2005-06.
	The other information requested is not available.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

Chequers

Eric Pickles: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster 
	(1)  if he will place in the Library a copy of the guidance on the use of Chequers by civil servants when the Prime Minister is not resident;
	(2)  on how many occasions Chequers has been used by civil servants on occasions when the Prime Minister was not present in the last 12 months; and for what purposes in each case.

Gillian Merron: holding answer 4 December 2007
	Chequers has not been used by civil servants when the Prime Minister was not present in the last 12 months.
	Guidance on the use of official residences is set out in the Ministerial Code.

Civil Service Agencies: Information Officers

Francis Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what guidance he has issued on the creation and operation of separate press offices with Departments' Executive agencies.

Gillian Merron: There is no central guidance on whether Executive agencies should run separate press offices from their parent Departments. This is a matter for individual Departments and agencies. The guidance issued across the Government Communication Network on issues like propriety is the same for press officers in all Government bodies.

Departmental Records: Office of the Deputy Prime Minister

Francis Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster which Department is responsible for the files and records formerly held by the Deputy Prime Minister's Office.

Gillian Merron: The Cabinet Office is responsible for the files and records formerly held by the Deputy Prime Minister's Office.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Bulgaria: Children in Care

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received on conditions for children in care in Bulgaria; and whether he plans to make representations on the matter to the Bulgarian authorities.

Jim Murphy: Since the documentary on the Mogilino Children's Care Home was first screened by the BBC, we have received over 150 emails and letters about childcare in Bulgaria. Our Embassy in Sofia has raised the issue with the Bulgarian Prime Minister, Justice Minister and Minister of Labour and Social Policy and remains in close touch with the authorities, as well as with non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and others active in this field such as the UN Children's Fund. Embassy officials are encouraging NGOs to work together and alongside the Bulgarian authorities, to help implement the necessary reforms. The Bulgarians have announced that they will direct around €5 million of EU structural funds for 2008 to develop alternative care arrangements.

Christmas

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether it is his Department's policy to use  (a) incandescent light bulbs and  (b) LED lights for festive decorations on departmental premises.

Jim Murphy: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has no specific policy on this matter.

Christmas

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his Department's policy is on the selection of  (a) real and  (b) artificial Christmas trees for his Department's festive decorations; and how real trees are disposed of.

Jim Murphy: All Christmas trees for use in common areas of Foreign and Commonwealth Office buildings in the UK are real. They are procured in full compliance with Government procurement rules, including environmental aspects. Once removed, trees are disposed of by chipping, to create soil-improving mulch and compost. Decorations provided with the trees remain the property of the supplier and are recovered for subsequent re-use. Our overseas missions apply the same guidelines, although practice may vary according to local circumstances.

Colombia: Armed Forces

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for what reason British military assistance has been provided to the High Mountain Battalions of the Colombian Army.

Kim Howells: Our bilateral defence co-operation programme in Colombia has very specific objectives: to improve the Colombian Army and National Police's adherence to human rights norms and values, including international humanitarian law, humanitarian demining and counter narcotics. All our assistance has respect for human rights at its core. It comes with conditions and safeguards attached, and we monitor this closely. All reasonable precautions, subject to resource constraints, are undertaken to avoid any UK assistance being implicated in any human rights abuses.
	We do not publish details of all the support we provide, nor to whom we provide it, as to disclose such information could endanger not only the effectiveness of the support, but also the lives of the British and Colombian personnel involved.

Colombia: Human Rights

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the observance of human rights in Colombia; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: We are concerned about the human rights situation in Colombia and the continued threats against human rights defenders, including trade unionists, community leaders and teachers. However, we are encouraged by the positive steps the Government of Colombia have been taking to address the human rights situation. For example, a new unit of specialised prosecutors with greater resources has been established to deal with cases of human rights abuses involving trade unionists - a point specifically welcomed by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in his report on Colombia, published on 15 March 2007.
	The UK provides assistance to Colombia in the area of human rights so that the serious, continuing challenges facing the country can be addressed and further improvements can be made to the lives of the Colombian people. Further detail can be found on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website:
	http://www.fco.gov.uk/Files/kfile/UK%20Columbia%20Assistance%Matrix.pdf
	We will continue to work with the Colombian Government and other partners, such as the EU, UN and civil society, to help Colombia address its serious problems.

Departmental Internet

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many unique visitors there were to each departmental blog in the last month; how many full-time equivalent staff work on each blog; and what the costs of each were for 2007-08.

Jim Murphy: The statistics available to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office for the Blogging Platform are for the site as a whole and show the number of sessions. For November 2007, there were 52,322 individual sessions on the platform. The statistics are not broken down by individual blog, nor can we say how many unique visitors there were.
	Between two and three full-time equivalent members of staff work on the Blogging Platform dealing with all of the blogs, of which there are currently eight. This includes the bloggers themselves, those involved in filming and uploading content and those responsible for updating and maintaining the platform.
	The Blogging Platform was launched on 26 September 2007. To date, the costs for setting up and maintaining the platform have been £10,185.52 plus the salaries of the staff involved.

Ethiopia: Eritrea

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Ethiopia and Eritrea border dispute.

Jim Murphy: The Government's policy towards the Ethiopia-Eritrea border dispute is based on three principles: to avoid any return to war, which would be unacceptable; for the border to be demarcated; and for the Parties to find a way to normalise relations. Ethiopia and Eritrea should agree a way forward to allow demarcation to proceed and for a normalisation process to begin.
	We have set out this policy to both Ethiopia and Eritrea, including when my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary met with Ethiopian Foreign Minister Seyoum Mesfm and when my noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for International Development, Baroness Vadera, and our ambassador in Addis Ababa met Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, in November. My noble Friend the Minister for Africa, Asia and the UN, the right hon. Lord Malloch-Brown, also made these points to Eritrean Foreign Minister Osman Saleh in November.
	We support the efforts of the UN with the Parties and will continue to pursue this policy with our international partners, including through the UN Security Council (UNSC). In this regard, we fully support the UNSC's Presidential Statement of 13 November, a copy of which will be placed in the Library of the House.

International Law

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals the UK has advanced for internationally agreed procedures to prevent breakdowns of states and societies, as referred to in the Prime Minister's Mansion House speech of 12 November.

David Miliband: The UK is already playing a leading role alongside international partners in ensuring that the international community can become more effective in preventing the breakdown of states and societies. Effective measures will require international consensus on the challenges and the backing of the international community. That is why the UK is pressing the UN and other bodies to deliver the 2005 World Summit commitment to the creation of a single Early Warning System and to operationalise the concept of Responsibility to Protect also endorsed at that World Summit. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister set out the clear challenge to the international community to deliver its commitments by improving procedures to prevent conflict. Specifically, the UN Security Council needs to act earlier, and there needs to be more use of targeted sanctions and international criminal court actions. The UK will continue to work with international partners on specific mechanisms to deliver existing international commitments.

Iran: Nuclear Weapons

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what decisions were taken at the meeting of E3+3 Political Directors in Paris on 1 December about the next stage in discussions with Iran over its nuclear programme; and when the next meeting between Javier Solana and Saeed Jalili is expected.

David Miliband: E3+3 Political Directors agreed in Paris on 1 December that neither the report of Mohammed El Baradei nor that of Javier Solana could be described as a 'positive outcome', the test set in the statement issued by E3+3 Foreign Ministers on 28 September in New York. Accordingly, they agreed that we should seek a new UN Security Council sanctions resolution. Dr. Solana made clear to Sa'id Jalili that they should remain in touch as necessary, but there is no date fixed for a further meeting at present.

Iran: Nuclear Weapons

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of whether Iran is meeting its commitments under the IAEA-Iran work plan of August 2007; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: Dr. Mohammed El Baradei, Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), reported on 15 November the level of co-operation Iran was giving the agency following the agreement of the IAEA-Iran work plan. In his report, he stated that Iran had provided 'sufficient access' to individuals and had responded in a 'timely manner' to the IAEA's questions. However, he also noted that co-operation had been 'reactive rather than proactive' and that active co-operation and full transparency were 'indispensable for full and prompt implementation of the work plan'. Even more concerning, he noted that the IAEA's knowledge about Iran's current nuclear programme is diminishing.
	We share Dr. El Baradei's concerns. After many years of concealing its nuclear programme, Iran has still not disclosed in full its past nuclear activities, and the IAEA is still unable to state its confidence in the answers Iran has given. To do this, the IAEA has made clear that Iran needs to give proactive co-operation and implement the Additional Protocol. Unless Iran does this, the IAEA has said it is unable to provide assurances about the exclusively peaceful nature of the programme. If Iran is serious about building international trust, it should implement the Additional Protocol and suspend all enrichment-related activities without delay.

Iran: Nuclear Weapons

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the most recent United States intelligence agencies' National Intelligence Estimate Report, Iran: Nuclear Intentions and Capabilities.

Kim Howells: It is not the practice of this or previous Governments to comment on intelligence matters. However, nothing in the National Intelligence Estimate changes the fundamental problem that we face which is Iran's pursuit of a uranium enrichment programme that has, as far as we can see, no civilian application. This is despite the unanimous demand from the UN Security Council and from the International Atomic Energy Agency that it stops doing so. Accordingly, we will continue to act in the UN, the EU and bilaterally to persuade Iran to change its approach and comply with its international responsibilities.

Kuwait

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many of his Department's personnel were based in Kuwait in support of Operation Telic in each year since 2003.

Kim Howells: There has been one UK based member of staff posted to our embassy in Kuwait in support of Operation Telic in each year since 2003. However, before the set up of the Iraq support unit in February/March 2004, embassy staff already posted in Kuwait helped with the logistics of officials travelling to Iraq.

Peacekeeping Operations

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contribution the UK made to UN peacekeeping operations in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: The following table provides details of the UK's contribution to UN peacekeeping operations over the last 10 years. The figures include troop, police and civilian personnel.
	The UK is currently the fourth largest contributor to the UN peacekeeping budget.
	In addition, the UK makes a significant contribution of troops to UN mandated missions, including Afghanistan (7,700), Kosovo (140) and Bosnia (19).
	
		
			   Military personnel, military observers, police, civilians  UK assessed contributions to UN peacekeeping (£) 
			 1997 n/a 57,685,432 
			 1998 n/a 29,337,251 
			 1999 n/a 28,020,242 
			 2000 594 93,951,000 
			 2001 714 126,725,157 
			 2002 612 86,928,831 
			 2003 563 87,286,235 
			 2004 542 152,915,762 
			 2005 349 163,600,452 
			 2006 358 199,566,553 
			 2007(1) 366 221,018,081 
			 Total 4,098 1,247,034,996 
			 (1) Forecast.

Projecting British Islam

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what work has been undertaken by Projecting British Islam delegations abroad; who the members of each delegation were; what the cost of each delegation was; and how he plans to evaluate their effectiveness.

Kim Howells: The 'Projecting British Islam' project is a programme of media intensive visits by British Muslim delegations, supported by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), to countries with significant Muslim populations. The aim is to counter misconceptions and misperceptions, which are exploited by extremists, about the treatment of Muslims and Islam in the UK.
	In financial years 2005-06 and 2006-07 the delegations cost £350,000, visiting: Bahrain, Qatar, Sudan, Egypt, Nigeria, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Algeria, Bosnia, Morocco, Tanzania, Kenya, Germany, France, the Netherlands and the USA.
	In financial years 2007-08 the FCO has allocated £180,000 to this project, for delegations to a range of countries including Sudan, Indonesia, Libya, Yemen, Afghanistan, Egypt, Bangladesh and Pakistan.
	To date more than 60 British Muslims have taken part, reflecting the diversity of British Muslim communities, and with a balance of age and gender. The delegates come from a range of professional backgrounds—doctors, scholars, lawyers, teachers, bankers and community activists.
	To evaluate the effectiveness of the project, we monitor media coverage in the countries concerned surrounding the delegation's visit and receive feedback from the delegates and the opinion-formers they meet. We also encourage follow-up by delegates on their return to the UK, in particular working through the Department for Communities and Local Government's Preventing Violent Extremism work.

Reconstruction

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place in the Library a copy of the UK's proposal for an international standby civilian force which could be deployed to rebuild civic societies as referred to in the Prime Minister's Mansion House speech of 12 November.

David Miliband: The UK and other leading players in the post-conflict field operate different rosters of reconstruction experts. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister indicated that these separate capacities need to be brought together to ensure the UN and other international agencies can draw on the right expertise to respond quickly and effectively to post-conflict situations. The UK will develop proposals with the UN and international allies first.

Russia: Elections

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with  (a) opposition parties and  (b) civil organisations in Russia on reports of voting irregularities in the recent election.

Jim Murphy: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has not held such discussions, but our Embassy in Moscow regularly with Russian political parties, and local civil society organisations such as "Golos", an independent Russian civic organisation founded in 2000 to defend voters' rights which unites over 280 non-governmental organisations (NGOs). Representatives of opposition parties and civil society have raised concerns about a number of aspects of the 2 December parliamentary election campaign, and about conduct on polling day.
	The Foreign and Commonwealth Office made a statement on 3 December expressing its concern about allegations of electoral malpractice which, if proven correct, would suggest that the Russian parliamentary elections were neither free nor fair.
	The EU issued a statement on 5 December in which it regretted the numerous reports and allegations of media restrictions, as well as harassment of opposition parties and NGOs in the run-up to the elections, and on election day, and concluded that procedures during the electoral campaign did not meet international standards and commitments voluntarily assumed by Moscow. The EU hoped that investigations would clarify the accuracy of these allegations. The EU also regretted that there was no long-term observation mission from the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR)/Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe Office to follow the election campaign and underlined that the presence of ODIHR would have constituted a reliable basis for a full assessment of the elections.

Russia: Elections

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions have taken place between the Government, the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe and the EU on the conduct of the Russian election.

Jim Murphy: At the recent meeting of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe's (OSCE) Ministerial Council in Madrid on 29 November I said that we
	"regret that the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) has recently faced a number of unprecedented restrictions and bureaucratic obstacles to observing the Russian Duma elections".
	I also met the Director of ODIHR, Ambassador Strohal, on 22 November, and discussed monitoring of the Russian elections with him. The EU presidency also spoke on behalf of EU member states at the OSCE Permanent Council on 6 December. The presidency welcomed the fact that the elections had taken place in an orderly and organised fashion, but regretted the numerous reports and allegations of media restrictions, as well as harassment of opposition parties and non-governmental organisations in the run-up to the elections and on election day. The statement concluded that procedures during the electoral campaign did not meet the international standards and commitments voluntarily assumed by Moscow and hoped that investigations would clarify the accuracy of these allegations. The EU also regretted that there was no long-term observation mission from ODIHR or OSCE to monitor the election campaign and underlined that the presence of ODIHR would have provided a reliable basis for a full assessment of the elections.

Russia: Elections

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the effect of the Russian election result on the wider region.

Jim Murphy: It is too early to determine what impact the results of the Russian parliamentary election may have on the politics across the wider region. It is reassuring that Kyrgyzstan and Georgia have extended invitations to the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe's specialist election monitoring body, the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, to monitor their parliamentary elections on 16 December 2007 and 5 January 2008 respectively. A smaller delegation will be observing the Presidential election in Uzbekistan on 23 December 2007.

Russia: Elections

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on UK relations with Russia following the Russian parliamentary elections.

Jim Murphy: We continue to engage Russia in pursuit of our international objectives related to energy security, climate change, international peace and security. This approach was commended in the recently published Foreign Affairs Committee report "Global Security: Russia".
	However, we share the widespread concern about the conduct of the Russian parliamentary elections. There were numerous allegations of electoral malpractice which, if proven correct, would suggest that the elections were neither free nor fair. Our long-standing policy is to air our concerns openly with the Russian Government, for example on human rights and the shrinking democratic space. We have said that it is vital that the Russian Central Election Committee urgently investigates all allegations of electoral abuses and that the Russian Government put in place systems to ensure that the Presidential elections in March 2008 will be transparent and democratic.

Russia: Elections

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many election observers were sent from the UK to monitor the recent Russian elections.

Jim Murphy: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the right hon. Member for Gordon (Malcolm Bruce) on 5 December 2007,  Official Report, column 1303W.

Russia: Elections

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe on the conduct of the recent elections in Russia.

Jim Murphy: At the recent meeting of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe's Ministerial Council in Madrid on 29 November I said that we
	"regret that the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) has recently faced a number of unprecedented restrictions and bureaucratic obstacles to observing the Russian Duma elections".
	I also met the Director of ODIHR, Ambassador Strohal, on 22 November, and discussed monitoring of the Russian elections with him.

South Africa: Mining

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions the Government have had with the South African Government on fatal accidents involving mineworkers.

Kim Howells: We have not discussed mine fatalities with the South African Government. There exists already a strong domestic debate in South Africa on this issue. In October President Mbeki ordered a safety audit of South Africa's mines. In addition, the National Union of Miners and the Congress of South African Trade Unions are actively pressing the Government to take further steps to ensure miner safety, with the former leading a march on December to protest against the level of fatalities in South Africa's mines. The Chamber of Mines has confirmed it will engage with stakeholders on mine safety.

Sudan: Armed Conflict

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the Government of Sudan has approved landing and night flying rights to all UNAMID aircraft.

Jim Murphy: UN Under-Secretary-General, Jean-Marie Guehenno, Head of the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO), told the UN Security Council on 27 November that the Government of Sudan had not approved adequate night flying rights for aircraft of the UN-African Union hybrid peacekeeping force in Darfur (UNAMID).
	However, representatives of the DPKO discussed UNAMID deployment, including landing and night flying, with representatives of the Government of Sudan on 8 December. The press statement released after the meeting noted that both sides agreed on the importance of the full and timely implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1769 and agreed to continue their discussions to resolve issues.
	We have pressed the Government of Sudan to co-operate fully with the DPKO over UNAMID deployment and we continue to monitor closely their discussions.

Sudan: Peace Negotiations

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received of progress made by the Southern Sudan Peace and Reconciliation Commission in facilitating South-South dialogue.

Jim Murphy: We understand the work of the Southern Sudan Peace Commission (SSPC) has stalled since the Sudanese Peoples' Liberation Movement's (SPLM) withdrawal from the Government of National Unity.
	The UK is urging the SPLM and National Congress Party to resolve their differences about the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA). Renewed and accelerated CPA implementation is essential for stability and peace in the whole of Sudan.
	We are pressing all sides to speed up the reconciliation process and to resolve all outstanding CPA-related issues. The UK is discussing a support programme for reconciliation and community security in the south, which would include support to the SSPC.

Sudan: Peacekeeping Operations

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations the UK has  (a) made and  (b) received on the adequacy of helicopter numbers for the UNAMID mission to Darfur; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: We have had extensive contacts over several months with senior UN officials about requirements for the UN African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID), including helicopters, and have regularly called in the UN Security Council and elsewhere for the force's full and early deployment. Most recently, I spoke about delays to the deployment with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on 7 December.
	The UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) has planned for 18 transport helicopters and six tactical utility helicopters for UNAMID, and has identified and approached countries that could potentially supply them. We have worked closely with the DPKO to support its lobbying efforts with those countries. We continue to work closely with them, with allies in the UN Security Council and with other potential contributors to secure the supply of helicopters.

Translation Services

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his Department's budget for translating Government publications and online services into other languages  (a) was in 2006-07 and  (b) is for 2007-08.

Jim Murphy: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office does not hold dedicated budgets for translating Government publications and online services and the information requested by the hon. Member could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Tristan da Cunha: Overseas Aid

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance his Department is providing to the people of Tristan da Cunha; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Murphy: Tristan da Cunha is financially self-sufficient and therefore does not receive any direct budgetary assistance from the Government. The Department for International Development (DFID) is providing £60,000 for some off-island training activities and a review of options for Tristan to diversify its economy and increase its revenue. DFID provides a resident doctor, and a visiting dentist and optometrist, under its health programme for St Helena. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office and DFID are funding £107,000 this financial year from their Overseas Territories Environment Project budget for a number of small-scale development projects. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is also working closely with DFID and the Tristan Government on the emergency repairs of Calshot Harbour.
	A recent viral outbreak on Tristan da Cunha has triggered a rise in the cases of asthma on the island. The island has enough stocks of the necessary drugs for this not to be an emergency situation now. Following close liaison with the Administrator on Tristan, DFID, the Ministry of Defence and others, however, we are making arrangements to provide an additional supply of drugs in advance of the next regular ship's visit to the island at the end of January 2008. We hope to be able to deliver these supplies to the island on a Royal Navy vessel around 15 December.

Zimbabwe: Human Rights

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans the Government have to raise the issue of human rights in Zimbabwe at the EU-African Union Summit in Lisbon; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: My noble Friend the right hon. Baroness Amos raised Zimbabwe and the appalling human rights situation caused by President Mugabe during her intervention on behalf of the UK at the EU/Africa summit in Lisbon. As high representative for the EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy, Javier Solana delivered a statement on behalf of the EU underlining member states' collective concern at the deteriorating human rights situation. Other EU member states (Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark and Sweden) also made interventions that specifically criticised the human rights situation in Zimbabwe.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Afghanistan: Drugs

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when the final report by his Department and the World Bank into possible economic incentives to reduce opium production in Afghanistan will be published; and if he will place a copy in the Library.

Douglas Alexander: The final report by DFID and the World Bank into possible economic incentives to reduce opium production in Afghanistan will be published at the end of January. A copy will be placed in the Library as part of our broader dissemination strategy.

Democratic Republic of Congo: Politics and Government

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the humanitarian situation in the North Kivu Province of the Democratic Republic of Congo; and what discussions he has had with his EU counterparts on the provision of humanitarian assistance to the country following the ACP-EU joint parliamentary meeting earlier this month.

Gareth Thomas: Recent assessments by DFID and the United Nations in North Kivu province of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) suggest that for the moment, although the humanitarian situation is serious, most of the critical humanitarian needs are being met. However, many areas are increasingly difficult to access, both due to ongoing conflict and poor infrastructure. The recent surge in fighting between the FARDC and forces of rebel General Nkunda is a serious cause for concern. There are reports of tens of thousands of newly displaced people. Although funding is available to respond to further needs through the DRC Humanitarian Pooled Fund—to which DFID has contributed £30 Million in 2007—if large scale displacements occur, the capacity of the humanitarian community could become overstretched and may struggle to address the humanitarian needs.
	On the 22 November, the ACP-EU Parliamentary Assembly adopted a resolution which called on the Governments of the EU and ACP countries, the Council of the EU, the European Commission, the UN and the African Union (AU) to do everything possible to provide efficient and adequate aid to the population in the east of the DRC and to contribute to address a humanitarian disaster. As a member of the Good Humanitarian Donorship group in the DRC, DFID regularly meets with partners, including EU counterparts and the European Community Humanitarian Office (ECHO), to discuss humanitarian assistance priorities and needs. We continue to monitor the situation closely.

Departmental Consultants

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much was paid in consultancy fees by his Department in each year since 1997.

Shahid Malik: Expenditure on consultancy services for the financial years 1997-98 to 2006-07 is listed in the following table. For 2000-01 onwards this includes both consultancy to deliver parts of our development programme where services are often provided to third parties such as recipient Governments, and consultancy to DFID as an organisation. For 1997-98 to 1999-2000, figures only include consultancies to deliver the development programme (as published in Statistics on International Development). Consolidated amounts for consultancy to DFID as an organisation are not available for this period.
	
		
			  £ million 
			   Consultancy spend  Of which programme budget (delivering parts of our development programmes)  Administration budget (consultancy to DFID as an organisation) 
			 1997-98 — 204 — 
			 1998-99 — 199 — 
			 1999-2000 — 197 — 
			 2000-01 284 209 75 
			 2001-02 273 257 16 
			 2002-03 274 250 24 
			 2003-04 270 241 29 
			 2004-05 276 239 37 
			 2005-06 255 228 27 
			 2006-07 270 250 20 
		
	
	These figures do not include lower-value contracts issued by DFID's overseas offices, which could be obtained only by incurring disproportionate cost.

Departmental Recycling

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what  (a) volume and  (b) percentage of its waste his Department recycled in each of the last five years.

Shahid Malik: The Department for International Development (DFID) has records of data for waste arisings from our UK buildings for the last four years:
	
		
			   Total waste (tonnes)  Percentage recycled /re-used (%) 
			 2003-04 342 (1)81 
			 2004-05 364 77 
			 2005-06 335 78 
			 2006-07 329 80 
			 (1 )recycling figure based on waste contractors policy, no reports available.

Departmental Recycling

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his Department's policy is on recycling.

Shahid Malik: The Department for International Development is strongly committed to the Sustainable Operations on the Government Estate targets. We have an Environmental Operations Policy outlining our commitment to meeting the Government waste targets, minimising and recycling waste as far as possible. Our Waste Contractors have policies in place which guarantee they will recycle at least 75 per cent. of all our waste.

Departmental Recycling

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much and what proportion of its waste his Department recycled in each of the last five years.

Shahid Malik: The Department for International Development (DFID) has records of data for waste arising from our UK buildings for the last four years:
	
		
			   Total waste (tonnes)  Percentage recycled /re-used (%) 
			 2003-04 342 (1)81 
			 2004-05 364 77 
			 2005-06 335 78 
			 2006-07 329 80 
			 (1 )recycling figure based on waste contractors policy, no reports available.

Economic Agreements: Intellectual Property

Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the Government's policy is on the inclusion of provisions on intellectual property rights in economic partnership agreements; and what assessment he has made of their likely effect on access to essential medicines.

Gareth Thomas: No intellectual property provisions have been included in the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) signed to date.
	The UK has always been clear that issues other than trade in goods should only be included in EPAs if the African, Caribbean or Pacific regions wish them to be. If a region wants to negotiate intellectual property rights in its EPA, then the UK policy is that no country should be required to go beyond existing commitments under the World Trade Organisation (WTO) agreement on trade related intellectual property rights (TRIPS). This agreement includes the right for countries to improve their access to cheaper medicines by producing, exporting or importing generic medicines under a compulsory licence. The UK supports this right. The Department for International Development has financed a number of organisations to assist developing countries to make better use of their TRIPS flexibilities, including compulsory licensing.

Gaza: Health Services

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the availability of medical stocks in hospitals and clinics in Gaza; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: DFID does not carry out its own assessments, but relies on information from other bodies including the World Health Organisation (WHO). According to WHO's latest information from October this year, 91 out of 416 essential drugs, and 188 out of 596 essential medical supplies were out of stock due to problems faced by suppliers in delivering. Stocks of a further 114 items of medical supplies were only predicted to last one to three months.
	More recently, in November the UN OCHA reported that first line paediatric antibiotics were no longer available in the Ministry of Health (MoH) because the only drug manufacturer that produces them in Gaza is unable to import the necessary chemical precursors. In addition, certain expensive drugs that are not on the essential drug list and that the MoH has no budget to procure have run out.
	These shortages are the result of the closure of Gaza's crossings. We call on all sides to assume their responsibilities in ensuring they re-open as soon as possible, and stand ready to provide appropriate assistance. I raised the closure of Gaza crossings and its humanitarian impact with the Israeli and Palestinian authorities during my visit earlier this week.

Iraq: Overseas Aid

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development with reference to the answer of 9 October 2007,  Official Report, columns 437-38W, on Iraq: Overseas Aid; 
	(1)  how much of the £744 million the Government has allocated to Iraq came from his Department;
	(2)  how much of the £744 million the Government has allocated to Iraq has not been used by the Iraqis.

Douglas Alexander: The UK has pledged £744 million for reconstruction and development in Iraq since 2003. From 2003 to March 2007, £667 million has been disbursed, of which £489 million has been spent by DFID (including EC contributions). The DFID budget for Iraq in 2007-08 is £30 million. We expect to have spent the total HMG pledge by the end of 2008-09.
	The UK has disbursed the following amounts by contributing Department:
	
		
			  £ million 
			   DFID (including EC contribution)  FCO (Secondments and Peacekeeping Conflict Pool)  MOD (Quick Impact Projects)  Global Conflict Prevention Pool (GCPP)—Joint DFID/FCO/MOD 
			 2002-03 9 0 0 0 
			 2003-04 227 29 0 5 
			 2004-05 70 21 30 18 
			 2005-06 110 15 5 15 
			 2006-07 73 12 3 25 
			 Total 489 77 38 63 
			  Note: Unofficial estimates only.

Somalia: Overseas Aid

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on the distribution on food aid in the Lower Shabelle region of Somalia.

Gareth Thomas: Recent reports including that of Sir John Holmes, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief, who visited some of the worst affected areas on 3 December, are that despite the many obstacles facing them, and the increasing seriousness of the situation, relief agencies are now distributing food and other essential supplies to the estimated 223,000 people in Lower Shabelle who were displaced from Mogadishu by this year's fighting. Supply routes via the port of Merca and by road still face obstruction where payment is demanded at checkpoints. We and others are putting pressure on the authorities to deal with this problem. However, distribution monitoring remains inadequate and the World Food Programme is taking steps to improve this by opening a base in Lower Shabelle and deploying more staff there.
	DFID has provided £8.6 million to the UN agencies, NGOs and the International Committee of the Red Cross who are leading the humanitarian effort in Somalia. We are prepared to provide further support.

Sudan: Reconstruction

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the status is of the Eastern Sudan Reconstruction and Development Fund.

Gareth Thomas: The Government of National Unity have allocated the required US$100 million to the Eastern Sudan Reconstruction and Development Fund but this funding has yet to be disbursed. The structure of the Fund's governing board, which is detailed in Article 23 of the Eastern Sudan Peace Agreement, has been agreed. However, the executive director has not yet been appointed and as such the board is not operational. State governments, however, are preparing projects in anticipation of the receipt of funds.

Tanzania: Overseas Aid

Roger Gale: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will review the UK aid programme to Tanzania in the light of the Silverdale case.

Gareth Thomas: holding answer 26 November 2007
	 We regularly review our aid programme to Tanzania and take account of all aspects of the country's performance and prospects for reducing poverty. The experiences of investors, including cases such as that of Silverdale, are considered as part of those reviews. But the most important consideration is whether we believe our assistance will effectively reduce poverty.

HEALTH

Adult Dental Health Survey

Paul Beresford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  on what date the next Adult Dental Health Survey will be published;
	(2)  what funding his Department has committed to the forthcoming Adult Dental Health Survey.

Ann Keen: Responsibility for determining the way forward on the next Adult Dental Health survey rests with the Information Centre for health and social care (IC).
	The IC is looking, with the Department and other stakeholders at the way forward. The funding requirements will be dependent on the outcome of these discussions and will feed into relevant organisations business planning for 2008-09 and subsequent years. We cannot yet predict when the results of the survey will be published.

Alcoholic Drinks: Misuse

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients were admitted to  (a) West Suffolk hospital,  (b) Addenbrookes hospital and  (c) Ipswich hospital as a consequence of (i) alcoholic liver disease and (ii) cirrhosis in each of the last five years.

Ivan Lewis: Information is not available by individual hospital rather it is collected for national health service trusts that the named hospitals are managed by. The following table shows the count of finished admission episodes at West Suffolk Hospital, Cambridge University Hospital National Health Service Foundation Trust (of which Addenbrookes Hospital is a part), and Ipswich Hospital.
	
		
			  Count of finished admission episodes where alcoholic liver disease (K70) or cirrhosis of the liver (K703, K717, K743, K744, K745, K746) were mentioned in any primary or secondary diagnosis field for selected trusts 
			   Cambridge University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (RGT)( *)  Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust (RGQ)*  West Suffolk NHS Trust (RGR)* 
			   Alcoholic liver disease  Cirrhosis of the liver  Alcoholic liver disease  Cirrhosis of the liver  Alcoholic liver disease  Cirrhosis of the liver 
			 2005-06 701 681 157 98 83 85 
			 2004-05 525 526 121 77 69 96 
			 2003-04 643 889 140 86 85 92 
			 2002-03 464 653 101 89 95 99 
			 2001-02 418 475 102 63 64 59 
			  Notes: 1. All diagnosis count of episodes: These figures represent a count of all finished admission episodes where the diagnosis was mentioned in any of the 14 (7 prior to 2002-03 diagnosis field in a HES record). 2. ICD10 code used for Alcoholic Liver Disease = K70 ICD10 codes used for Cirrhosis of Liver: K70.3 Alcoholic cirrhosis of liver K71.7 Toxic liver disease with fibrosis and cirrhosis of liver K74.3 Primary biliary cirrhosis K74.4 Secondary biliary cirrhosis K74.5 Biliary cirrhosis, unspecified K74.6 other and unspecified cirrhosis of liver Code K70.3 is also included within the data for alcoholic liver disease. Do not add these figures together as this would cause double counting. 3. Assessing growth through time: HES figures are available from 1989-90 onwards. During the years that these records have been collected in the NHS there have been ongoing improvements in quality and coverage. These improvements in information submitted by the NHS have been particularly marked in the earlier years and need to be borne in mind when analysing time series. Changes in NHS practice also need to be borne in mind when analysing times series. For example a number of procedures may now be undertaken in outpatient settings and may no longer be accounted in the HES data. This may account for any reductions in activity over time. 4. Data Quality: HES are compiled from data sent by over 300 NHS trusts and primary care trusts (PCTs) in England. The Information Centre for health and social care liaises closely with these organisations to encourage submission of complete and valid data and seeks to minimise inaccuracies and the effect of missing and invalid data via HES processes. While this brings about improvement over time, some shortcomings remain. 5. Finished admission episodes: A finished admission episode is the first period of in-patient care under one consultant within one health care provider. Admissions do not represent the number of in-patients, as a person may have more than one admission within the year. 6. Ungrossed Data: Figures have not been adjusted for shortfalls in data (i.e. the data are ungrossed).  Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES, The Information Centre for health and social care

Alcoholic Drinks: Misuse

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the  (a) start and  (b) end date is of each activity he has planned for next year to tackle excessive alcohol consumption; and what the expected cost is of each activity in each year for which expenditure is planned.

Dawn Primarolo: The start and end dates of planned activity to tackle excessive alcohol consumption next year are listed and described in detail with timescales in Annex B in The Government's renewed alcohol strategy, "Safe. Sensible. Social", published in June 2007. A copy is available in the Library.
	The planned new actions and next steps involve a number of Government Departments as well as the national health service locally, and it is therefore not possible to fully set out expected costs.
	The Department is spending £1.7 million in 2006-07 on the 'Know your Limits' campaign, which is a joint campaign with the Home Office who are contributing additional funding. In the case of the NHS, primary care trusts are responsible for delivering improvements to patient care, so spending on activity outlined in the strategy will be based on local decisions. We would also expect there to be scope for off-setting efficiency savings, for example from reduced hospital admissions.

Arthritis

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the expenditure by  (a) his Department's research and development budget and  (b) the Medical Research Council on research into rheumatoid arthritis was in each year since 1997-98.

Dawn Primarolo: Over the last 10 years, the main part of the Department's total expenditure on health research has been devolved to and managed by national health service organisations.
	Details of individual NHS supported research projects including a large number concerned with rheumatoid arthritis are available on the national research register at
	www.nrr.nhs.uk.
	In addition, the Department's expenditure on national research programme projects specifically concerned with rheumatoid arthritis during this time has been as follows:
	
		
			   £000 
			 1997-98 59 
			 1998-99 119 
			 1999-2000 119 
			 2000-01 136 
			 2001-02 144 
			 2002-03 67 
			 2003-04 nil 
			 2004-05 72 
			 2005-06 nil 
			 2006-07 36 
		
	
	Implementation of the Department's research strategy "Best Research for Best Health" has led to an expansion of our research programmes and in significant new funding opportunities for health research. Work relevant to rheumatoid arthritis will for example be undertaken in several of the National Institute for Health Research Biomedical Research Centres (BRC). The Cambridge BRC has a musculoskeletal disorders research theme to which £2.2 million has been allocated over five years; and the Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust BRC has a rheumatology research theme for which the total budget over five years is £2.7 million.
	The Medical Research Council (MRC) is one of the main agencies through which the Government supports biomedical research. The MRC is an independent body funded by the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills.
	The MRC funds a large portfolio of research related to arthritis and rheumatism much of which will be of relevance to rheumatoid arthritis. Available MRC expenditure figures for research relevant to arthritis and rheumatism are shown in the following table.
	
		
			   Expenditure (£ million) 
			 1999-2000 4.8 
			 2000-01 3.9 
			 2001-02 4.2 
			 2002-03 6.8 
			 2003-04 6.8 
			 2004-05 5.0 
			 2005-06 5.5

Arthritis: Drugs

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many drugs for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis were dispensed in the community in each year since 1997; and at what net ingredient cost.

Dawn Primarolo: The main drugs that can be used to treat rheumatoid arthritis are listed at paragraphs 10.1.1 (Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), 10.1.2 (Corticosteroids) and 10.1.3 (Rheumatic disease suppressant drugs) of the British National Formulary (BNF). The number of prescription items dispensed and associated net ingredient cost for drugs listed in these paragraphs are shown in the following tables. Some prescribing of these drugs will be for reasons other than rheumatoid arthritis (e.g. muscle strain) and there will be some prescribing from other areas of the BNF for the condition, e.g. BNF section 4.7 (Analgesics), which is not included.
	
		
			  Prescription items dispen sed in the community, in England 
			  £000 
			   BNF paragraph 10.1.1  BNF paragraph 10.1.2  BNF paragraph 10.1.3  Total 
			 1997 18,195.4 475.0 576.6 19,247.0 
			 1998 18,462.4 478.5 641.9 19,582.7 
			 1999 18,688.6 482.1 721.7 19,892.3 
			 2000 18,779.9 475.3 812.4 20,067.6 
			 2001 19,414.2 451.0 925.2 20,790.4 
			 2002 20,031.7 442.7 1,035.8 21,510.1 
			 2003 20,595.8 447.6 1,147.0 22,190.5 
			 2004 20,871.4 456.4 1,259.3 22,587.1 
			 2005 18,454.8 487.1 1,400.1 20,342.0 
			 2006 17,606.3 505.5 1,551.6 19,663.4 
			  Source: Prescription cost analysis (PCA) system 
		
	
	
		
			  Net ingredient cost of prescription items dispensed in the community, in Engla nd 
			  £000 
			   BNF paragraph 10.1.1  BNF paragraph 10.1.2  BNF paragraph 10.1.3  Total 
			 1997 160,710.6 1,759.1 5,289.3 167,759.0 
			 1998 157,926.1 1,761.6 6,338.6 166,026.3 
			 1999 170,223.9 2,053.6 6,637.7 178,915.2 
			 2000 176,094.4 1,966.2 5,981.3 184,042.0 
			 2001 181,707.7 1,864.8 7,239.2 190,811.7 
			 2002 204,807.2 1,945.8 8,242.6 214,995.7 
			 2003 230,623.2 2,072.4 9,426.2 242,121.8 
			 2004 246,596.5 2,118.2 11,837.6 260,552.4 
			 2005 151,863.5 2,245.7 15,666.3 169,775.4 
			 2006 144,810.9 2,341.7 19,155.7 166,308.4 
			  Source: PCA system

Bacterial Diseases

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to introduce mandatory reporting of cases of the health care associated infection pseudomonas.

Ann Keen: There are no plans to introduce mandatory reporting of cases of pseudomonas blood stream infections at present, but we will keep this under review.

Breast Cancer: Screening

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the NHS plans to use stereo mammography as a means of detecting breast cancer.

Ann Keen: Currently there are no plans to use stereo mammography in the national health service breast screening programme.
	We would welcome any new technology that could improve the breast screening programme, however, this is a developing technology and we would need to consider the evidence of its effectiveness before it could be introduced into the screening programme.

Breast Cancer: Screening

Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Health by what means his Department plans to extend the NHS breast cancer screening programme to all women aged 47 to 73 years by 2012.

Ann Keen: The extension of the breast screening programme age range will start from April 2008 and will be managed by National Health Service cancer screening programmes in partnership with local health services.
	As with the previous age extension, increasing the upper age range limit to 70 years, this will take several years to implement fully, as more staff will need to be recruited and trained and more equipment purchased. Full implementation is expected by the end of 2012.
	The necessary phasing in of this expansion will be carefully considered to ensure that the most useful epidemiological data can be gathered to inform future decisions about the breast screening programme.

Breast Cancer: Screening

Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the reasons are for the ages of people to whom the  (a) breast cancer and  (b) bowel cancer screening programmes apply.

Ann Keen: In March 2002 the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) of the World Health Organisation (WHO) evaluated the evidence on breast cancer screening. They concluded that trials have provided sufficient evidence for the screening of women between 50 and 69 years, and that the reduction in mortality from breast cancer among women who chose to participate in screening programmes was estimated to be about 35 per cent. The IARC working group consisted of 24 experts from 11 countries.
	We now want to extend the breast screening programme so that more women benefit and even more lives are saved. At present women are invited for screening seven times at three yearly intervals between 50 and 70. Over time, this will be extended to nine screening rounds between 47 and 73 years with a guarantee that women will have their first screening invitation before the age of 50.
	This extension was recommended by the Cancer Reform Strategy (CRS) Breast Cancer Working Group, who carefully examined the emerging evidence on extending the programme below and above the current age ranges, and the recommendation was accepted by the CRS Advisory Board.
	For bowel screening research undertaken in Nottingham and Funen in the 1980s showed that screening men and women aged 45 to 74 for bowel cancer using the faecal occult blood test (FOBt) could reduce the mortality rate from bowel cancer by 16 per cent. in those screened.
	An independently evaluated pilot in Warwickshire and Scotland showed that this research can be replicated in an national health service setting. Based on the final evaluation report of the pilot and a formal options appraisal, the NHS bowel cancer screening programme in England is screening men and women aged 60 to 69.
	As announced in the recently published cancer reform strategy, from 2010 we will be extending the screening age range for bowel cancer to invite men and women aged 70 to 75 years.
	By the end of 2010, decisions will be taken about the possible roll out of bowel screening to people in their 50s, dependent on forthcoming research findings.

Breast Cancer: Screening

Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of the likely effects of lowering the entry level age of the breast cancer screening programme.

Ann Keen: The extension of the breast screening age range was recommended by the cancer reform strategy (CRS) Breast Cancer Working Group, which carefully examined the emerging evidence on extending the programme below and above the current age ranges, and the recommendation was accepted by the CRS Advisory Board.
	The CRS Breast Cancer Working Group membership consisted of expert stakeholders, including clinicians, breast cancer charity representatives, researchers and patients.
	By lowering the starting age for breast screening we will guarantee that women will have their first screening invitation before the age of 50.

Cancer: Finance

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the planned start date is of the  (a) National Cancer Survivorship Initiative and  (b) National Cancer Equality Initiative; and what the expected cost is of each in each financial year for which estimates have been made.

Ann Keen: The National Cancer director will lead the new National Cancer Survivorship Initiative (NCSI) in partnership with Macmillan Cancer Support and other cancer charities. The NCSI will consider a range of approaches to survivorship care and how these can best be tailored to meet individual patients' needs.
	As part of this work, Macmillan Cancer Support will host a think tank event, Making the Cancer Survivorship Agenda a Reality, in March 2008. The key outcomes of the event will be to: identify key policy work streams and priorities; to agree stakeholder involvement for each of the policy work streams; and to produce a report outlining the outcome of the event for wider circulation.
	The event will be co-chaired by the National Cancer director and the chief executive officer of Macmillan Cancer Support and will involve patients, health professionals, the voluntary sector, academics, research experts, international experts and Government.
	In recognition of the challenge to reduce inequalities in cancer, the National Cancer director will begin a National Cancer Equality Initiative (NCEI), bringing together key stakeholders from the professions, voluntary sector, academia and equality groups to develop research proposals on cancer inequalities, test interventions and advise on the development of wider policy. The National Cancer director is currently discussing with key stakeholders how best to take the NCEI forward, and detailed work will begin in early 2008.
	Both of these are new initiatives, and costs will emerge as the details of the initiatives are developed.

Cancer: Medical Treatments

Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Health by what means the NHS Cancer Reform Strategy will address inequalities between regions in cancer  (a) diagnosis,  (b) treatment and  (c) survival rates.

Ann Keen: The Cancer Reform Strategy (CRS), published on 3 December 2007, and the Equality Impact Assessment published alongside the strategy, set out a comprehensive series of measures to address inequalities between regions in cancer diagnosis, treatment and survival rates.
	Socio-economic deprivation has a marked impact on cancer outcomes. Cancer mortality is more than 15 per cent. higher in spearhead primary care trusts (PCTs) than the national average. To address this regional variation, along with tackling other cancer inequalities, the Department will begin a national cancer equality initiative (NCEI), which will develop research proposals on cancer inequalities, test interventions and advise on the development of wider policy.
	The Department will work through the NCEI with strategic health authorities (SHAs) and PCTs to agree challenging goals for reducing cancer mortality in every cancer network area by 2012. The National Audit Office is funding a dedicated post in the Cancer Action Team to drive forward equity issues.
	Other specific actions in the CRS to reduce regional inequalities include:
	the Government will continue to invest in social marketing initiatives at the national level to support people to stop smoking, especially with the free support available from the national health service. Social marketing initiatives will be focussed towards groups in our community with the greatest smoking prevalence;
	commissioners in PCTs with low coverage levels for cancer screening will wish to develop targeted programmes that increase the uptake of screening in poor communities. To incentivise services to encourage higher coverage for screening we will explore moving to an activity based system for funding screening services;
	the Department is investing in a campaign that uses social marketing techniques to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of breast, lung and bowel cancers and to encourage people who think they might have cancer to seek help earlier in 20 of the most deprived areas; and
	the National Cancer Director will repeat his evaluation of National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) -approved cancer drug usage during 2008 to ensure that patients across the country continue to have access to drugs positively appraised by NICE.

Cancer: Screening

Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how the NHS Cancer Reform Strategy is expected to improve cancer detection in primary care.

Ann Keen: The Cancer Reform Strategy contains several actions that will improve cancer detection and recognises that primary care professionals have essential roles at all stages of the cancer care pathway, one of which being the diagnosis of cancer.
	The main actions are:
	 Establishing a national audit in primary care
	The audits will build on the 'significant events reviews' already being undertaken by many general practitioners and will focus on aspects such as the number of visits to primary care with relevant symptoms before referral to hospital (delay pattern analysis).
	The resultant information will inform both local practice learning as well as the national audit. The audit will be undertaken collaboratively by the Royal College of General Practice and the National Patient Safety Agency.
	 Establishing a national awareness and early diagnosis initiative
	Some good work to raise cancer symptom awareness and encourage early presentation is already under way. The initiative, led by the National Cancer Director, will provide co-ordinated support to local health services to deliver effective interventions.
	The initiative will also develop key cancer messages for both health professionals and the public. The messages will be developed over the course of 2008-09.
	 Improving access to diagnostics
	This is the single most important priority in primary care. The strategy sets out the mechanisms, such as developing and agreeing local protocols and commissioning diagnostic providers, that need to be put in place to improve access and increase capacity of diagnostic services.
	This issue also forms an important component of the national health service Next Stage Review, which is being conducted by Lord Darzi. The review is due to be published in the summer 2008.

Care Homes

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many and what proportion of private sector care homes are owned by companies who own more than one home;
	(2)  how many  (a) private,  (b) public and  (c) voluntary sector care homes for the elderly were subject to regulation and inspection by the Commission for Social Care Inspection in each of the last five years.

Ivan Lewis: We have been informed by the chair of the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) that it does not collect information on the proportion of private sector care homes owned by companies which own more than one home. CSCI inspects and regulates each individual service and not the organisation running the home.
	The following table shows counts of the numbers of care homes regulated against the Care Homes Regulations 2001 and National Minimum Standards (NMS) for Care Homes for Older People year on year (which will be less than the total numbers of homes registered).
	
		
			   Type of home 
			  As at 31 March  Private  Local authority  Voluntary  NHS  Other( 1) 
			 2006-07 8,617 783 1,035 15 115 
			 2005-06 8,642 828 1,093 13 95 
			 2004-05 8,796 871 1,095 14 89 
			 2003-04 9,020 915(3) 1,130 13 89 
			 2002-03 8,768 158(3) 1,037 10 76 
			 (1) CSCI inspects homes against the NMS for Care Homes for Younger Adults (aged 18-64) or the NMS for Care Homes for Older People. Homes are classified by CSCI as homes for younger adults or for older people depending on the set of NMS against which they are inspected. The decision about the set of standards used is based on the relative numbers of older people (aged 65 plus) or younger adults (aged 18-64) resident at the time of inspection.  Notes: 1. Homes chose how they are classified during the registration process. "Other" includes any form of ownership not covered by the principal four categories. 2. When the National Care Standards Commission (NCSC) database was established in 2002, the process of registration of homes was staggered. Local authority services were registered after private and voluntary services. The increase in numbers between 2002-03 and 2003-04 does not represent an increase in homes, but in the number registered with NCSC.  Source: CSCI Registration and Inspection database.

Care Homes: Closures

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many care homes in Suffolk have closed in the last five years.

Ivan Lewis: Data on care home closures prior to 2002 is not held centrally. We are informed by the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) that the number of homes de-registered in Suffolk since 2002-03 were as shown in the following table. De-registration is not the same as closure. It includes not only homes permanently closed, but also temporary closures, for example, while refurbishment takes place or while a new manager is appointed.
	
		
			  Number of care homes de-registered in Suffolk 
			   Number 
			 2002-03 18 
			 2003-04 40 
			 2004-05 11 
			 2005-06 27 
			 2006-07 18 
			 Total 114 
			  Source: CSCI Registration and Inspection database 2007 (data as at 4 November 2007).

Care Homes: Finance

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if his Department will fund a trial of a partnership model for funding social care in East Sussex.

Ivan Lewis: The Department has no plans to fund a trial of a partnership model for funding social care in East Sussex.

Care Homes: Inspections

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the Commission for Social Care Inspection is required to undertake a new inspection of a care home when the registered manager of a care provider changes.

Ivan Lewis: Before a person is registered to manage any service regulated by the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI), they must complete the application process. This will not necessarily involve an inspection of the care home in question, but it ensures that new managers are positively approved in their personal capacity before becoming registered and starting work.
	All registered persons are required, under Regulation 39 of the Care Homes Regulations 2001, to notify CSCI when a manager of the service in question is to leave, or if a new manager is to be appointed. CSCI may respond to notifications in any way it chooses, and will decide on what action to take in relation to a change of manager depending on what is already known about the service in question. In some cases, CSCI may decide it is appropriate to visit the service in question.

Care Homes: Inspections

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if his Department will review the  (a) efficacy and  (b) effect on service users of the new inspection methodology introduced in April 2006 by the Commission for Social Care Inspection; and if he will ensure that such a review includes a comparative assessment of care inspection frequency in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Ivan Lewis: The Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) operates at arms length from Government. It is for CSCI to evaluate any changes to its inspection methodology.

Care Homes: Inspections

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many registered nursing inspectors were available to inspect nursing and care homes in England in each of the last five years.

Ivan Lewis: We are informed by the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) that it does not collect annual figures on the number of registered nurses working as inspectors. However, CSCI carried out a data verification project on the skills and experience of its staff in May 2005. This project, which not every member of staff chose to participate in, revealed that at least 318 inspectors had nursing experience or skills at that time.
	CSCI is to commence a new such verification project in 2008. It estimates that there are currently at least 300 CSCI inspectors who have an active nursing qualification. Where possible, CSCI will assign inspectors with a nursing background to inspect nursing homes.

Children: Exercise

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much has been spent on the National School Pedometer Programme; how much is planned to be spent; what estimate he has made of pedometer use by children; and what assessment has been made of the effectiveness of such use in tackling obesity.

Dawn Primarolo: The Department is spending £494,000 on the 'Schools on the Move' National School Pedometer Programme in 2007-08. Our spending plans beyond this financial year are yet to be finalised. The Department also contributed £98,500 to the piloting of the Programme.
	A full evaluation of the pilot was undertaken by the London Institute for Sport, Middlesex university, in September 2006. During the pilot year, step counts increased steadily from an average of 8,355 steps at baseline to an average of 16,436 in the 28 week (97 per cent. increase). The pilot found that students' intention to maintain their walking levels was optimistic as 35 per cent. reported that they 'definitely' will maintain their walking during the next 12 months. Most students (51 per cent.) reported that since the beginning of the school year they had increased their physical activity levels. We are confident that the increases in physical activity it produced are likely to have an important impact on energy balance, helping to reduce levels of obesity.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people were diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome in  (a) Jarrow constituency,  (b) South Tyneside,  (c) the North East and  (d) England in each year since 1997.

Ann Keen: Information on the number of people diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis is not collected.

Commission for Social Care Inspection: Manpower

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of the inspections carried out by the Commission for Social Care Inspection in the last 12 months were carried out by locum inspectors; and what training is received by locum inspectors from the Commission for Social Care Inspection before they are deployed.

Ivan Lewis: The total number of inspections completed by the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) between 1 December 2006 and 1 December 2007 was 28,116. 293 of these inspections were carried out by locum inspectors, which equates to 1.04 per cent. of inspections for this period.
	The majority of locum inspectors are retired inspectors. Training for locum inspectors varies according to region and the requirements of the individual, which will depend on their requirements and previous experience.

Community Care

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what estimate his Department has made of the costs of providing community care  (a) in people's own homes and  (b) at a single central location in rural areas;
	(2)  what estimate his Department has made of the costs of providing community care in people's own homes in  (a) rural and  (b) urban areas;
	(3)  what estimate he has made of the  (a) time spent by and  (b) costs of healthcare professionals travelling to provide community care in homes in (i) rural and (ii) urban areas.

Ivan Lewis: The Government's policy is to support people in their own homes for as long as possible, where it is safe to do so and when it accords with their wishes and assessed needs.
	No estimate has been made of the costs of providing social care services in people's own homes or at a single central location in rural areas. Local councils are responsible for providing or arranging social care services in people's own homes. Councils have considerable freedom to manage and direct their own resources and the Department does not direct them how best to do so.
	No estimate has been made centrally of time spent by and costs of healthcare professionals travelling to provide community care in homes in rural and urban areas. It is for primary care trusts, in partnership with local authorities and other local stakeholders, to assess the needs of their local communities and to commission services accordingly. This process provides the means for addressing the needs of the local population, including the provision of community care services.

Community Care: Direct Payments

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much has been paid in direct payments under the Fair Access to Care Services scheme in the last 12 months, broken down by local authority area; how much of this has not been spent; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: The following table shows the gross expenditure spent on direct payments under the fair access to care services scheme in 2005-06, broken down by councils with adult social services responsibilities (CASSRs) in England. The figures in this table give details on direct payments spent on adults aged 18 and over who fall under the eligibility criteria of the fair access to care services scheme.
	Information on how much has not been spent is not centrally available.
	
		
			  Gross expenditure spent on direct payments split by client group and councils with adult social services responsibilities (CASSRs) in 2005-06 
			  £ 000 
			   Older people aged 65 or over  Adults aged 18-64 with a physical disability or sensory impairment  Adults aged 18-64 with learning disabilities  Adults aged 18-64 with mental health needs  Total 
			 England 67,757 158,860 42,181 5,443 274,241 
			   
			 Cumbria 618 1,215 272 71 2,176 
			 Northumberland 564 570 435 2 1,571 
			 Gateshead 164 567 39 12 782 
			 Newcastle Upon Tyne 178 820 311 21 1,331 
			 North Tyneside 199 465 174 5 843 
			 South Tyneside 197 466 176 75 914 
			 Sunderland 312 233 207 21 773 
			 Hartlepool Unitary Authority (UA) 119 158 39 18 334 
			 Middlesbrough UA 249 379 234 35 897 
			 Redcar and Cleveland UA 179 537 299 10 1,024 
			 Stockton-on-Tees UA 104 484 197 81 866 
			 Durham 543 772 1,236 35 2,586 
			 Darlington UA 97 554 269 24 944 
			 Barnsley 184 381 212 12 789 
			 Doncaster 288 817 103 0 1,208 
			 Rotherham 413 679 105 98 1,295 
			 Sheffield 791 2,078 464 57 3,390 
			 Bradford 526 801 202 58 1,587 
			 Calderdale 311 945 236 0 1,492 
			 Kirklees 60 862 365 26 1,313 
			 Leeds 371 1,008 25 65 1,469 
			 Wakefield 482 1,238 262 7 1,989 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire UA 301 1,090 199 111 1,701 
			 Kingston Upon Hull UA 201 378 90 21 689 
			 North East Lincolnshire UA 91 472 75 16 654 
			 North Lincolnshire UA 109 293 0 5 407 
			 North Yorkshire 161 1,092 215 16 1,484 
			 York UA 33 277 250 0 561 
			 Bolton 255 963 244 19 1,481 
			 Bury 80 242 185 0 507 
			 Manchester 936 2,273 350 30 3,589 
			 Oldham 172 794 266 200 1,432 
			 Rochdale 198 615 21 17 851 
			 Salford 473 649 295 19 1,436 
			 Stockport 216 642 339 26 1,224 
			 Tameside 246 495 103 66 910 
			 Trafford 564 682 112 27 1,385 
			 Wigan 157 660 446 15 1,278 
			 Knowsley 181 435 459 6 1,081 
			 Liverpool 805 624 524 81 2,034 
			 Sefton 479 1,020 209 34 1,742 
			 St. Helens 475 497 304 1 1,277 
			 Wirral 329 950 332 44 1,655 
			 Cheshire 754 2,063 785 160 3,762 
			 Halton UA 178 472 398 47 1,095 
			 Warrington UA 255 707 263 23 1,249 
			 Lancashire 1,101 4,440 609 39 6,189 
			 Blackburn with Darwen UA 318 416 325 27 1,086 
			 Blackpool UA 256 389 113 19 111 
			 Warwickshire 378 1,697 181 12 2,268 
			 Birmingham 2,425 3,378 877 21 6,702 
			 Coventry 623 2,625 746 169 4,163 
			 Dudley 149 173 211 23 556 
			 Sandwell 61 116 35 11 223 
			 Solihull 258 304 129 0 691 
			 Walsall 419 635 314 19 1,387 
			 Wolverhampton 438 578 74 6 1,095 
			 Staffordshire 582 1,319 462 14 2,377 
			 Stoke-on-Trent UA 235 791 175 144 1,345 
			 Herefordshire UA 312 938 105 14 1,369 
			 Worcestershire 382 1,146 384 6 1,917 
			 Shropshire 350 1,106 391 2 1,850 
			 Telford and the Wrekin UA 126 387 136 0 649 
			 Lincolnshire 599 1,601 473 23 2,696 
			 Northamptonshire 928 1,800 220 143 3,091 
			 Derbyshire 993 2,586 523 30 4,132 
			 Derby UA 518 1,240 76 22 1,856 
			 Leicestershire 397 1,799 330 153 2,679 
			 Leicester UA 175 1,147 126 30 1,479 
			 Rutland UA 56 126 0 1 183 
			 Nottinghamshire 555 3,008 760 47 4,370 
			 Nottingham UA 253 1,199 64 21 1,537 
			 Hertfordshire 888 2,818 323 45 4,074 
			 Norfolk 908 2,797 549 150 4,404 
			 Oxfordshire 1,131 1,341 1,289 27 3,787 
			 Suffolk 1,093 1,249 825 52 3,219 
			 Bedfordshire 367 734 120 9 1,230 
			 Luton UA 150 300 147 8 605 
			 Buckinghamshire 870 1,355 191 65 2,481 
			 Milton Keynes UA 174 541 104 0 819 
			 Bracknell Forest UA 27 170 37 6 240 
			 West Berkshire UA 110 181 95 0 385 
			 Reading UA 127 369 94 0 590 
			 Slough UA 161 212 158 0 531 
			 Windsor and Maidenhead UA 98 273 36 28 435 
			 Wokingham UA 157 285 86 2 531 
			 Essex 6,272 7,626 3,851 602 18,351 
			 Southend-on-Sea UA 81 455 173 17 727 
			 Thurrock UA 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Cambridgeshire 695 2,174 540 97 3,506 
			 Peterborough UA 103 443 37 16 599 
			 Camden 968 1,205 3 1 2,178 
			 Greenwich 481 1,811 420 34 2,746 
			 Hackney 540 912 242 35 1,729 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 384 1,026 143 35 1,588 
			 Islington 483 1,654 235 15 2,388 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 475 409 39 12 935 
			 Lambeth 259 1,678 517 0 2,454 
			 Lewisham 135 814 30 6 985 
			 Southwark 488 1,008 149 11 1,656 
			 Tower Hamlets 149 1,053 220 5 1,427 
			 Wandsworth 244 406 43 13 706 
			 Westminster 427 829 247 25 1,528 
			 City of London 23 205 0 0 228 
			 Barking and Dagenham 761 1,081 101 2 1,945 
			 Barnet 1,039 1,502 313 3 2,857 
			 Bexley 60 387 75 10 532 
			 Brent 172 806 136 6 1,120 
			 Bromley 208 218 65 16 507 
			 Croydon 611 1,085 268 101 2,065 
			 Ealing 927 1,443 488 2 2,860 
			 Enfield 575 891 321 25 1,812 
			 Haringey 377 930 0 18 1,325 
			 Harrow 396 791 102 0 1,289 
			 Havering 148 756 46 5 955 
			 Hill1ngdon 284 1,588 169 68 2,108 
			 Hounslow 637 837 206 46 1,726 
			 Kingston upon Thames 349 735 60 38 1,182 
			 Merton 172 373 66 5 616 
			 Newham 221 388 372 109 1,090 
			 Redbridge 217 804 135 13 1,169 
			 Richmond upon Thames 544 1,050 135 1 1,730 
			 Sutton 151 360 32 0 543 
			 Waltham Forest 141 740 144 7 1,032 
			 Isle of Wight UA 713 332 81 13 1,139 
			 Surrey 1,474 3,082 398 117 5,071 
			 West Sussex 529 2,997 1,478 82 5,086 
			 Dorset 341 1,166 255 0 1,762 
			 Bournemouth UA 482 709 188 0 1,379 
			 Poole UA 94 380 147 6 627 
			 Hampshire 3,057 4,615 858 154 8,684 
			 Portsmouth UA 127 599 72 0 798 
			 Southampton UA 449 1,107 248 55 1,859 
			 East Sussex 433 2,110 320 56 2,920 
			 Brighton and Hove UA 382 586 35 4 1,007 
			 Wiltshire 729 1,637 706 100 3,172 
			 Swindon UA 78 607 67 0 751 
			 Kent 1,576 3,528 658 14 5,776 
			 Medway Towns UA 118 732 107 0 957 
			 Cornwall 207 689 145 14 1,055 
			 Gloucestershire 352 231 217 4 804 
			 Somerset 716 2,317 108 11 3,152 
			 Isles of Scilly 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Bath and North East Somerset UA 204 501 87 37 829 
			 Bristol UA 47 2,835 257 58 3,198 
			 North Somerset UA 101 1,003 426 2 1,533 
			 South Gloucestershire UA 108 1,462 350 197 2,117 
			 Devon 1,245 2,174 310 10 3,739 
			 Plymouth UA 190 344 148 3 685 
			 Torbay UA 63 661 167 3 894 
			  Source:  PSSEX1

Community Care: Direct Payments

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how often local authorities are required to carry out a review into the distribution of direct payments under the Fair Access to Care Services scheme; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  which local authorities have carried out a review into the distribution of direct payments under the Fair Access to Care Services scheme in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: Local authorities are not required to carry out a review into the distribution of direct payments under the Fair Access to Care Services (FACS). FACS is a framework that councils should use to help them determine if individuals are eligible for support. If an individual is eligible, support may be provided as a direct payment or as a service arranged or provided directly by the council.
	Local authorities are expected to keep the distribution of direct payments across client groups under review as part of their local performance management arrangements. An annual assessment of performance on direct payments is included as one of the Commission for Social Care Inspection's (CSCI) Social Services Performance Assessment Framework Indicators for adults. This forms part of the information CSCI uses in its evidence based judgments on star ratings.

Departmental Responsibilities: Climate Change

Rob Marris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he  (a) has taken and  (b) intends to take by (i) 2012 and (ii) 2020 in relation to adaptation to the effects of climate change as they affect his departmental responsibilities; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: holding answer 29 November 2007
	The importance of the climate change agenda is well understood and it is recognised that to tackle climate change, not only do we have to reduce greenhouse gases, but we must also adapt to the impacts we are already experiencing and will continue to experience over the coming decades due to the inertia in the system.
	Climate impacts affect many departmental responsibilities. We have worked closely with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to develop the adaptation sections of the Climate Change Bill, which will require Government to assess the risks climate change poses to the United Kingdom—including to public health and the health estate—and to develop a programme to respond to those risks. The first risk assessment will be due three years after Royal Assent (around 2011) with the programme being published shortly afterwards. We have also worked with other Departments on the development of the Adaptation Policy Framework which will be published in spring 2008, setting out the Government's programme of action on climate impacts.
	In May 2007, the Department published an update of their 2001 report "The Health Effects of Climate Change" for comment. This is being finalised for publication later this year.
	The Department has a national heat wave plan in place, which is evaluated and updated annually to ensure that the best available evidence is used to reduce the ill effects of heat waves. The plan and supporting guidance are circulated to emergency planners and relevant stakeholders in May each year.
	On flooding, the Department's emergency preparedness division continues to work across the health economy in partnership with other agencies and Departments to ensure improved resilience of patient services, including national health service infrastructure and health supply chains, and the preparedness of the service to respond to major flooding incidents. Closer work will be needed between the NHS and the Environment Agency to mitigate the affects of flooding in the longer term.
	Protection from skin cancers, sunburn and cataracts caused by ultraviolet radiation will rely heavily on public health messages building, for example, on the Department's current collaboration with Cancer-Research UK for the SunSmart campaign.
	Although winter deaths are likely to decline, the Department's Keep Warm Keep Well campaign provides annual advice to vulnerable people (mainly older people and also disabled people and families on low incomes) on how to keep themselves and their homes warm in the winter.
	The UK recognises that the potential health impact of climate change also requires global action. To this end, the UK has successfully arranged for an agenda item on 'climate change and health' to be included on the agenda of the forthcoming World Health Organisation Executive Board in January 2008. Our aim is to raise awareness of the health implications of climate change among health ministries and professionals and promote practical and sustainable action nationally and internationally to respond to these. Discussion at the Executive Board will enable member states to focus on planning and developing adaptation policies. The UK is also engaged with the European Union on their recent Green Paper on Adaptation.

Doctors' and Dentists' Review Body

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many hours per week a full-time equivalent staff member is expected to work for each of the groups listed in paragraph 3.4 on page 20 of his Department's evidence to the Review Body on Doctors' and Dentists' Remuneration.

Ann Keen: The number of hours expected of each staff group depends on the employment contract by which they are bound.
	Each contract type has a basic number of hours per week, listed as follows for each of the staff groups. In addition to these basic contracted hours, employers and individual staff can agree to contract for additional hours.
	
		
			  Staff group  Basic contract hours (per week) 
			 Consultants 40 
			 Associate specialists 38.5 
			 Staff grades 40 
			 Junior doctors (1)— 
			 General Practitioners (GP) registrars 40 
			 GP (2)— 
			 Salaried GPs 37.5 
			 (1 )The basic contract is 40 hours (2 )The majority of GPs are independent contractors and can therefore decide what hours they work. However they do need to make sure that the business needs meet the GP contract.

Doctors: Housing

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the tax liabilities of junior doctors receiving  (a) partially and  (b) fully subsidised hospital accommodation.

Ann Keen: The issue of fully subsidised hospital accommodation had been discussed from time to time over a number of years between officials from the Department, HM Revenue and Customs (and its predecessor) and representatives of NHS Employers. Agreement was reached in August 2007 that the exemption from income tax in respect of provided living accommodation will continue to apply to junior doctors who are employed at Foundation House Officer 1 grade on contracts that are effective for the year commencing 1 August 2007. No discussions have taken place relating to partially subsidised accommodation.

Doctors: Housing

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 29 November 2007,  Official Report, column 714W, on doctors: housing, if he will place in the Library the relevant sections of the guidance within the Terms and Conditions for Employment for Junior Doctors on the application of charges for accommodation provided through hospital channels.

Ann Keen: NHS Employers are responsible for the terms and conditions of service for junior doctors. An extract of the paragraphs (173 to 178), covering charges for accommodation for junior doctors has been placed in the Library.

Doctors: Housing

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 29 November 2007,  Official Report, column 714W, on Doctors: Housing, when the guidance within the terms and conditions for employment for junior doctors on the application of charges for accommodation provided through hospital channels was last updated.

Ann Keen: NHS Employers issued guidance in August 2007 to trusts following the changes to the Medical Act 1983 which came into effect on 1 August 2007.

Doctors: Training

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the competition ratio for training posts for registrar group doctors was in 2007, broken down by region and specialty.

Ann Keen: The Department does not have this information for the whole of the 2007 recruitment because the national Medical Training Application Service computer system was not used for applicants in Round 2. However, we published the competition ratios for Round 1 earlier in the year and these are available on the Modernising Medical Careers (MMC) website at: www.mmc.nhs.uk

Doncaster and Bassetlaw Hospitals NHS Trust: Industrial Disputes

Michael Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will take steps to resolve the dispute between maintenance craft workers and Doncaster and Bassetlaw NHS Trust.

Ann Keen: The Secretary of State has no locus to direct the trust in this matter given its status as a National Health Service Foundation Trust.

Drugs: Death

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people died from drug overdoses while on the waiting list to receive hard drug substitutes in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Dawn Primarolo: This information is not collected centrally.

Eating Disorders: Children

Stephen Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which primary care trusts provide specialist eating disorder services for those aged under 13 years.

Ivan Lewis: This information is not collected centrally.
	We take the issue of eating disorders, especially among young people, very seriously. This is why the Department asked the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) to produce a clinical guideline on the core interventions in the treatment and management of anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and related eating disorders, and which NICE published in 2004. The guideline covers physical and psychological treatments, treatment with medicines, and information specifically for patients, carers and the public. NICE will commence a review of this guideline in January 2008.
	As primary care trusts consider local health needs and commissioned services, they will need to assess whether the right balance exists between in-patient care and home-based care, particularly at a highly specialised levels, to help individuals with eating disorders.

Elderly: Nutrition

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he intends to provide any incentives to  (a) GPs,  (b) district nurses and  (c) other professionals in primary care settings to provide nutritional screening for older people in line with National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence's (NICE) guidelines, as referred to on page 35 of his Department's document, Improving Nutritional Care; and for what reasons he does not expect (i) GPs, (ii) district nurses and (iii) other professionals in primary care settings to provide nutritional screening for adults of all ages.

Ivan Lewis: There is no intention to nationally provide new or additional incentives for general practitioners (GPs), nurses, or other health professionals to deliver nutritional screening for older people. Prioritisation is a matter for primary care trusts (PCTs) who would need to pay for any local incentive scheme. However, one aim of the Agenda for Change pay system, introduced in 2003-04 for the majority of non-medical national health service staff, was to establish a framework within which PCTs could incentivise delivery of local priorities through rigorous job evaluation, which enables remuneration based on skills and experience, better training opportunities linked to pay progression and use of recruitment and retention premia to attract difficult to recruit skills.
	Older patients regularly see their GP or other member of the primary care team. On average, over-75s see their GP at least six times a year, and as part of GPs' essential services, elderly patients' general health would be assessed as part of their regular ongoing treatment within these visits.

Elderly: Nutrition

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health who the members of his Department's Nutrition Action Plan Delivery Board are.

Ivan Lewis: Membership of the Nutrition Action Plan Delivery Board is being decided and details will be published in due course.

Females: Conferences

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which Ministers from his Department  (a) attended and  (b) spoke at the Women Deliver conference held in London from 18 to 20 October; whether his Department contributed (i) direct funding, (ii) informal support and (iii) personnel; whether officials from his Department (A) attended and (B) participated; what discussions his Department had with the Department for International Development on this conference; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: No Department Ministers attended the Women Deliver conference. Dr. Gwyneth Lewis, the National Clinical Lead for Maternal Health and Maternity Services, attended as an observer and represented the Department. No other support was given by the Department for the event.
	The Government lead for the conference lay with the Department for International Development and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Development opened the conference.

Fibromyalgia

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people were diagnosed with meningitis in  (a) Jarrow constituency,  (b) South Tyneside,  (c) the North East and  (d) England in each year since 1997.

Dawn Primarolo: The number of people diagnosed with meningitis in South Tyneside , North east England and England in each year since 1997 is shown in the following table. Information is not collected by constituency.
	
		
			  Statutory notifications of meningitis 
			  Area  1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006 
			 South Tyneside(1) 2 1 — 1 1 1 2 — — — 
			 North East England 115 77 76 95 104 72 51 50 65 80 
			 England 2,144 1,925 1,916 2,251 2,431 1,449 1,387 1,186 1,271 1,406 
			 (1)( )South Tyneside figures are also included in the North England and the England total  Source:  Health Protection Agency

Health Services: Disadvantaged

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps the Government has taken to reduce health inequalities between the richest and poorest quartiles of the population since 1997.

Dawn Primarolo: Health inequalities targets are not set and monitored in terms of the richest and poorest quartiles of the population.
	This Government have introduced the most comprehensive programme ever seen in this country to address health inequalities, including the first national public service agreement (PSA) targets to reduce inequalities as measured by infant mortality (by socio-economic classification) and life expectancy (by geographical area) by 10 per cent. by 2010.
	National initiatives to deliver the PSA include:
	putting a cross-government national health inequalities strategy in place to deliver the 2010 target, complemented by programmes such as NHS Health Trainers, NHS Life Check and Communities for Health;
	launching the Health Inequalities Intervention Tool in August 2007; and
	reviewing the success of the Inequalities Infant Mortality PSA target and committing to publish an implementation plan/good practice guidance shortly
	Action to tackle health inequalities was strengthened further by the Secretary of State's announcement last September that the Department will publish a comprehensive strategy next year for reducing health inequalities. This will address unjustified gaps in health status, fair access to national health service services for everyone and good outcomes of care for all.

Heart Diseases: Health Services

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps the Government plan to take to increase the availability of cardiac rehabilitation services.

Ann Keen: The provision of cardiac rehabilitation services is a matter for the local national health service, working in partnership with stakeholders and the local community. It is for NHS organisations to plan and develop services based on their specific local knowledge and expertise.
	A new National Cardiac Rehabilitation Audit has been introduced across England, jointly sponsored by the British Heart Foundation and the Healthcare Commission. This will provide stronger evidence on effectiveness and encourage local areas to appraise and improve their provision of cardiac rehabilitation.
	Furthermore, in July 2007, a British Heart Foundation-led campaign with the British Association of Cardiac Rehabilitation was launched, which together with the audit will raise the profile of rehabilitation and give impetus to the provision of rehabilitation services.

HIV Infection: Research

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps the Government has taken to encourage scientific research into HIV since 1997.

Dawn Primarolo: The Government encourages scientific research into HIV through long-standing partnerships between the Department of Health, the Department for International Development (DfID) and the Medical Research Council (MRC). The MRC receives its funding through the Department for Innovation Universities and Skills.
	The Department has since 1986 supported a research programme on sexual health and HIV. The programme is managed on its behalf by the MRC, with advice from the Sexual Health and HIV Research Strategy Committee(1). In this way, the MRC is able to co-ordinate the work of the programme with its broader portfolio of national and international research on sexual health and HIV that aims to address the two challenges of protection from HIV transmission and treatment of those affected.
	The Committee identifies research needs and priorities, stimulates new research, and advises on the value and relevance to the programme of proposals submitted to it for funding. Studies on HIV epidemiology, prevention and treatment have been a major part of the programme. Currently, around half of the studies funded are concerned with HIV, or HIV in the context of sexually transmitted infection more generally.
	Other joint initiatives supporting and encouraging research on HIV include the MRC/DFID DART trial, one of the largest trials in Africa to evaluate two strategic approaches for the management of Antiretroviral Therapies; and the MRC/DFID Microbicides Development Programme, a partnership between the United Kingdom and sub-Saharan Africa to develop vaginal microbicides for the prevention of transmission of HIV infection.
	Internationally, the European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP), which involves 16 European countries and 46 sub-Saharan African countries, aims to develop new clinical interventions to fight HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis.
	(1) This Committee was established in 2002 when it replaced the Committee for the Epidemiological Study of AIDS.

HIV Infection: Young People

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps the Government have taken to educate young people about HIV infection since 1997.

Beverley Hughes: I have been asked to reply.
	Teaching about safer sex is one of the Government's key strategies for reducing the incidence of HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
	The Department issued its "Sex and Relationship Education (SRE) Guidance" to all maintained schools in July 2000. Prior to this the basic requirements for sex education were covered by the 1996 Education Act. The guidance took account of the revised national curriculum published in 1999 and was developed in discussion with key stakeholders to make sure it covered all relevant issues. It sets out the framework within which schools should provide effective SRE at each of the four key stages. At secondary school level SRE should prepare young people for an adult life in which (among other things) they can:
	be aware of their sexuality and understand human sexuality;
	understand the reasons for having protected sex;
	have sufficient information to protect themselves from HIV and other STIs.
	The position has been further reinforced following the recent review of the secondary curriculum undertaken—at the request of the Department—by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority. SRE will continue to place a strong emphasis on sexual activity, HIV and other STIs, and how high-risk behaviours affect the health and well-being of individuals, families and communities.

Hospital Beds

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether changes have been made to  (a) the definition of the term delayed discharges and  (b) the procedures in determining a delayed discharge since the implementation of the Delayed Discharges Act 2003; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: holding answer 6 December 2007
	Guidance on the implementation of the Community Care (Delayed Discharges etc) Act 2003, including the definition of and procedures for notifying delayed discharges was issued on 24 September 2003 as Health Service Circular, HSC 2003/009 and Local Authority Circular, LAC (2003) 21. This guidance is still current and has not been amended.

Hospital Beds: East Anglia

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many bed spaces there were on average at  (a) Addenbrookes,  (b) West Suffolk and  (c) Ipswich hospitals in (i) 1997, (ii) 2002 and (iii) at the latest time for which figures are available.

Ivan Lewis: The following table shows the average available and occupied beds for Addenbrooke's Hospital National Health Service Trust, Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust and West Suffolk Hospitals NHS Trust in 1996-07, 2001-02 and 2006-07.
	
		
			   1996-07  2001-02  2006-07 
			  Org name  Available beds  Occupied beds  Available beds  Occupied beds  Available beds  Occupied beds 
			 Addenbrooke's NHS Trust(1) 1,287 1,135 1,280 1,102 1,048 912 
			 Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust 816 638 769 644 700 594 
			 West Suffolk Hospitals NHS Trust 685 506 679 566 494 413 
			 (1 )Addenbrooke's NHS Trust became Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in July 2004  Source:  Department of Health form KH03

Hospital Beds: Eastern Region

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many hospital beds there were in each primary care trust area in the East of England in each year since 1997.

Ivan Lewis: The information is not available in the format requested. The following table shows the average available beds for national health service trusts in the East of England between 1997 and 2007 (latest data available).
	
		
			  Average daily available beds for NHS trusts in the East of England between 1997 and 2007. In 2000-01, East Hertfordshire NHS Trust and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust merged to form East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust. In 2000-001, Mount Vernon and Watford Hospitals NHS Trust and St. Albans and Hemel Hempstead NHS Trust merged to form West Hertfordshire NHS Trust. Present trust names used only—for all trust name changes, refer to following notes 
			  Org code  Organisation  1996-07  1997-08  1998-99  1999-2000  2000-01  2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			 RDD Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 675 662 613 614 627 646.94 627 652 652 662 663.79 
			 RC1 Bedford Hospital NHS Trust 476 455 459 450 451 459.67 471.9 525.36 511.64 433 431 
			 RGT Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 1,287 1,302 1,277 1,257 1,269 1,280 1,026 1,034 1,032 1,068 1,048 
			 RWH East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust — — — — 1,289 1173.5 1126.3 1049.2 1054.9 1,077 1,066 
			 RC4 East Hertfordshire NHS Trust 646 622 603 600 — — — — — — — 
			 RAQ North Hertfordshire NHS Trust 653 641 676 674 — — — — — — — 
			 RDE Essex Rivers Healthcare NHS Trust 755 723 752 750 764 754.35 834 701.08 643 660 666.87 
			 RQQ Hinchingbrooke Healthcare NHS Trust 397 397 389 389 417 416.75 350.24 342.65 337.79 293.03 262.63 
			 RGQ Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust 816 761 738 733 781 769.21 766.62 782 755.71 746.44 699.59 
			 RGP James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 479 521 530 546 540 550.76 552.28 550.29 568.61 566.49 507.68 
			 RC9 Luton and Dunstable Hospital NHS Foundation Trust 538 517 507 519 522 513.92 536.93 565.6 574.44 567.91 578.1 
			 RQ8 Mid Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust 888 880 846 818 843 850.65 854.39 771.27 761.38 808.59 684.07 
			 RM1 Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital NHS Trust 1,008 966 954 920 914 928 960.83 1017.1 1006.3 969.74 962.68 
			 RGM Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust 183 189 184 181 177 186.74 193.4 196.73 201.41 209.81 212.78 
			 RGN Peterborough and Stamford Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 765 722 690 676 687 684.54 767.93 776.66 747.47 647.44 613.94 
			 RAJ Southend University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust 776 770 757 754 728 727.72 713.26 746.43 767.76 764.78 770.46 
			 RQW The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust 381 365 361 346 623 628.62 546.81 498.41 498.35 514.36 484.53 
			 RCX The Queen Elizabeth Hospital King's Lynn NHS Trust 721 683 659 642 656 623.63 511.29 542.22 560.5 502.36 480.04 
			 RWG West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust — — — — 867 833.96 816 826.73 924.13 924.78 766.08 
			 RQL Mount Vernon and Watford Hospitals NHS Trust 761 621 616 548 — — — — — — — 
			 RPW St. Albans and Hemel Hempstead NHS Trust 506 476 436 378 — — — — — — — 
			 RGR West Suffolk Hospitals NHS Trust 685 713 673 664 687 678.79 638.31 676 630.77 570.42 494.12 
			  Notes: Name changes: ROD—Basildon and Thurrock General Hospitals NHS Trust (1997-08-2001-02), Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Trust (2002-03-2004-05), Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (2005-06-present) RGT—Addenbrookes NHS Trust (1996-97-2004-05), Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (2005-06-present) RGP—James Paget Healthcare NHS Trust (1996-97-2004-05), James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (2005-06-present) RC9—Luton and Dunstabte Hospital NHS Trust (1996-97-2004-05), Luton and Dunstable Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (2005-06-present) RQ8—Mid Essex Hospitals NHS Trust (1996-07-2001-02), Mid Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust (2002-03-present) RM1—Norfolk and Norwich Health Care NHS Trust (1996-97-2000-01), Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital NHS Trust (2001-02-present) RGM—Papworth Hospital NHS Trust (1996-97-2004-05), Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (2005-06-present) RGN—Peterborough Hospitals NHS Trust (1996-97-2004-05), Peterborough and Stamford Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (2005-06-present) RAJ—Southend Health Care NHS Trust (1996-97-2001-02), Southend Hospital NHS Trust (2002-03-2004-05), Southend University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (2005-06-present) RCX—Kings Lynn and Wisbech Hospitals NHS Trust (1996-97-2004-05), The Queen Elizabeth Hospital King's Lynn NHS Trust (2005-06-present)  Source: Department of Health form KH03

Hospital Beds: Mid Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what procedures were used in determining the status of a delayed discharge patient in the Mid-Essex Hospital Trust area in  (a) 2002 and  (b) the latest period for which figures are available;
	(2)  how many delayed discharges there were in the Mid-Essex Hospital Trust area in each of the last 12 months;
	(3)  what assessment has been made of the effect of the closure of the intermediate care wards at St. John's Hospital, Chelmsford on the number of delayed discharge patients in the Mid-Essex Hospital Trust area in the last 24 months.

Ivan Lewis: holding answer 6 December 2007
	 The information is not currently available, it will be available in February and a copy will be placed in the Library.

Hospitals: Admissions

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many alcohol-related admissions there were to hospitals in each primary care trust area in  (a) 2004,  (b) 2005 and  (c) 2006; and what proportion these figures represented of all admissions in each area.

Dawn Primarolo: The information requested has been placed in the Library.

Hospitals: Eastern Region

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many operations were cancelled at  (a) Addenbrooke's hospital,  (b) West Suffolk hospital and  (c) Ipswich hospital within (i) seven days and (ii) 24 hours of the appointment in each of the last five years.

Ivan Lewis: Information is not available in the format requested. However the following table shows the number of last minute cancelled operations for non clinical reasons, at Cambridge University Hospitals National Health Service Foundation Trust, Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust and West Suffolk Hospitals NHS Trust for each year from 2002-03 to 2006-07 which is the latest data available.
	
		
			  Number of last minute cancelled operations for non clinical reasons 
			  Name  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			 England 67,254 66,303 68,569 60,803 52,005 
			 Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 645 769 1,090 507 460 
			 Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust 417 488 533 384 355 
			 West Suffolk Hospitals NHS Trust 194 425 585 275 225 
			  Notes: A last minute cancellation is one that occurs on the day the patient was due to arrive, after they have arrived in hospital or on the day of their operation. Some common non-clinical reasons for cancellations by the hospital include: ward beds unavailable; surgeon unavailable; emergency case needing theatre; theatre list over-ran; equipment failure; admin error; anaesthetist unavailable; theatre staff unavailable; and critical care bed unavailable. An operation which is rescheduled to a time within 24 hours of the original scheduled operation should be recorded as a postponement and not as a cancellation. The QMCO collection does not record the number of postponements.  Source:  Department of Health dataset QMCO

Hospitals: Manpower

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for East Worthing and Shoreham (Tim Loughton) of 16 October 2007,  Official Report, column 1055W, on hospitals: manpower, what funding his Department has provided to the NHS National Workforce Projects (NWPs) in  (a) 2005-06,  (b) 2006-07 and  (c) 2007-08; where the pilots commissioned by the NHS NWPs are operating, and what the objectives for each pilot is; whether the results of the pilots will be made public; what lessons have so far be learned as a result of the pilots; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: The funding allocations to national health service National Workforce Projects were £6,800,000 in 2005-06; £3,500,000 in 2006-07; and £762,000 in 2007-08 for NHS National Workforce Projects. A total of £11,062,000 is being invested for the five year duration of the programme from 2005-06 to 2009-10 to support front line NHS services.
	The pilot projects under way are with the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists; Milton Keynes General NHS Trust; shift patterns; paediatric solutions; cooperative solutions; taking care 24:7; team working, handover and escalation; and information technology solutions. Full details of all these pilots including locations and where available their objectives, results and lessons learned have been placed in the Library. All this information can also be viewed at the National Workforce Project website:
	www.healthcareworkforce.nhs.uk/pilotprojects.html.

Hospitals: Standards

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  when he intends to publish Patient Environment Action Team scores for 2007;
	(2)  whether the National Patient Safety Agency's Patient Environment Action Team scores for 2007 incorporated an assessment of the extent to which nutritional screening is undertaken in hospitals as part of its work on hospital food.

Ann Keen: The 2007 patient environment action team (PEAT) scores were published on 21 November 2007 and the summary results for the last three years are given as follows. Full details are available on the NPSA website at:
	www.msnpsa.nhs.uk/peat/
	
		
			  Percentage 
			   Excellent  Good  Acceptable  Poor  Unacceptable 
			  Patient environment 
			 2005 10.3 44.8 40.1 4.6 0.2 
			 2006 14.2 49.8 31.1 4.8 0.2 
			 2007 14.3 48.9 34.8 1.6 0.5 
			   
			  Hospital food 
			 2005 32.4 51.5 14.8 1.3 0.0 
			 2006 33.8 57.8 8.3 0.08 0 
			 2007 46.5 48.5 4.5 0.5 0.0 
			  Notes: Figures rounded to one decimal place 
		
	
	As part of the PEAT survey 2007, responding national health service organisations were rated on various aspects of hospital food provision. This includes a category designated 'nutritional' care which asks whether all patients have been nutritionally screened, but this is only one component of the category, and the results cannot be disaggregated.
	Guidance states that in answering, respondents should also consider whether there is evidence that weighing scales are regularly calibrated; there is a policy on nutritional care; there is an active nutritional screening group; and whether staff are aware of the importance of nutritional care for patients' health and quality of life.

Influenza: Disease Control

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how much his Department has budgeted for the costs associated with the new measures in the Flu Pandemic Plan in each financial year from 2007-08 to 2010-11, broken down by  (a) resource and  (b) capital expenditure;
	(2)  what arrangements his Department has to replenish its stocks of Tamiflu as existing stocks expire; what estimate he has made of the cost of stock replenishment; and how such costs will appear in his Department's resource accounts;
	(3)  when he expects his Department to have increased its stock of antivirals to the levels where it has sufficient for at least 50 per cent. of the population in the event of pandemic influenza.

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Health where the advanced supply vaccines recently announced will be manufactured.

Dawn Primarolo: Clinical countermeasures, vaccines, antivirals, antibiotics and facemasks are a key part of the Government response to pandemic influenza. I refer the hon. Member to the statement given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on 22 November 2007,  Official Report, columns 1350-61, to launch the national framework for responding to an influenza pandemic and the Government's plan to increase the level of stockpiles of the clinical countermeasures to improve the ability of the United Kingdom to respond to a pandemic.
	The costs of new clinical countermeasure strategy cannot be provided as it could affect the commercial negotiations that will be progressed and potentially reduce the possibility of getting best value for money.
	The increasing of current stockpile of antivirals is subject to a commercial assessment on antivirals will be completed that will identify the worldwide capacity and demand for antivirals.
	The current stockpile of Tamiflu will be replenished if it passes its shelf life and has not been used to respond to a pandemic. The costs of replenishment will be subject to the same commercial arrangements as that for procuring new stockpiles and therefore cannot be currently stated.
	The Advance Supply Agreements for the supply of pandemic specific vaccine were signed with GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and Baxter this summer. These allow for the purchase of sufficient vaccine for the UK population. The Baxter vaccine will be manufactured in the Czech Republic and Austria, while the GSK vaccine will be manufactured in Germany and Belgium.

Influenza: Vaccination

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to increase the percentage of old age pensioners who receive an influenza vaccine.

Dawn Primarolo: holding answer 5 December 2007
	We launched a campaign on 28 September incorporating a number of strategies aimed at encouraging people aged 65 and over to receive their flu immunisation. The campaign incorporated:
	national television advertising;
	advertising in national and regional newspapers, including ethnic media;
	advertising on pharmacy bags; and
	work with commercial partners such as Tesco, Morrisons and other stakeholders such as Alzheimer's Society and Aid for the Aged in Distress.
	Details of those eligible to receive their free flu vaccination this year was made available to all health professionals via the chief medical officer letter dated 30 March 2007 and also as part of the 'If you knew about Flu' campaign leaflet. Two million of these leaflets have been distributed as part of this year's campaign.

In-vitro Fertilisation

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the cost to the NHS of providing one cycle of in-vitro fertilisation treatment in the latest year for which figures are available.

Dawn Primarolo: We do not have an estimate of how much the national health service spends on in-vitro fertilisation. However, we arranged for a survey of primary care trusts by strategic health authorities in the autumn about the commissioning of infertility treatment. The responses to the survey are currently being analysed.

Malnutrition: Screening

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what progress has been made in establishing a nationally-agreed standard malnutrition screening tool, as stated in section 5.0 of the National Patient Safety Agency's Nutritional Screening: Structured Investigation Project;
	(2)  what steps he is taking to ensure patients are aware of nutritional screening so that they can ask for an assessment, as recommended in section 4.4 of the National Patient Safety Agency's Nutritional Screening: Structured Investigation Project.

Ann Keen: The National Nutrition Plan published in October 2007 encouraged commissioners and providers to promote nutrition screening in all health and social care settings. The National Patient Safety Agency is currently supporting the implementation of the malnutrition universal screening tool (MUST) as the screening tool of choice. This is being done in collaboration with the Royal College of Nursing, as part of the Nutrition Now Campaign, through a serious of trust based workshops. The workshops are attended by nurses, dieticians and caterers and provide a training session on using the MUST screening tool.

Malnutrition: Screening

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations his Department has received from  (a) NHS staff,  (b) social care staff and  (c) other interested parties on the (i) availability and (ii) suitability of weighing scales to assess patients for risk of malnutrition in the last year; what the content was of these representations; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: The Department's correspondence database contains no representations made in the last year that mention 'weighing scales'. Other departmental offices also confirmed that they are not aware of receiving representations in the previous year, which raised the issue of the availability and suitability of weighing scales to assess patients for risk of malnutrition.

Maternity Services

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which NHS trusts in England provide maternity services.

Ann Keen: Analysis of national data from NHS Maternity Statistics, England 2005-06 shows that the national health service trusts listed as follows provide maternity services.
	Aintree University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
	Airedale NHS Trust
	Ashford and St. Peter's Hospitals NHS Trust
	Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust
	Barking, Havering and Redbridge Hospitals NHS Trust
	Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust
	Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
	Barts and The London NHS Trust
	Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
	Basingstoke and North Hampshire NHS Foundation Trust
	Bedford Hospital NHS Trust
	Birmingham Children's Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
	Birmingham Women's Health Care NHS Trust
	Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre Hospitals NHS Trust
	Bolton Hospitals NHS Trust
	Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
	Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust
	Bromley Hospitals NHS Trust
	Buckinghamshire Hospitals NHS Trust
	Burton Hospitals NHS Trust
	Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust
	Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
	Central Manchester and Manchester Children's University Hospitals NHS Trust
	Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
	Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
	City Hospitals Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust
	Cornwall Partnership NHS Trust
	Countess Of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
	County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust
	Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust
	Derby Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
	Doncaster and Bassetlaw Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
	Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
	Dudley Group of Hospitals NHS Trust
	Ealing Hospital NHS Trust
	East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust
	East Cheshire NHS Trust
	East Kent Hospitals NHS Trust
	East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust
	East Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust
	Epsom and St. Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust
	Essex Rivers Healthcare NHS Trust
	Frimley Park Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
	Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust
	George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust
	Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
	Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Trust
	Guy's and St. Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust
	Hammersmith Hospitals NHS Trust
	Hampshire Partnership NHS Trust
	Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust
	Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust
	Heatherwood and Wexham Park Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
	Hereford Hospitals NHS Trust
	Hinchingbrooke Health Care NHS Trust
	Homerton University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
	Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust
	Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust
	James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
	Kettering General Hospital NHS Trust
	King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
	Kingston Hospital NHS Trust
	Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
	Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
	Liverpool Women's NHS Foundation Trust
	Luton and Dunstable Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
	Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust
	Mayday Healthcare NHS Trust
	Medway NHS Trust
	Mid Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust
	Mid Staffordshire General Hospitals NHS Trust
	Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust
	Milton Keynes General Hospital NHS Trust
	Newham University Hospital NHS Trust
	Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital NHS Trust
	North Bristol NHS Trust
	North Cheshire Hospitals NHS Trust
	North Cumbria Acute Hospitals NHS Trust
	North Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust
	North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Trust
	North West London Hospitals NHS Trust
	Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust
	Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust
	Northern Lincolnshire and Goole Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
	Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
	Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust
	Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust
	Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust
	Peterborough and Stamford Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
	Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust
	Poole Hospital NHS Trust
	Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust
	Queen Elizabeth Hospital NHS Trust
	Queen Mary's Sidcup NHS Trust
	Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic and District Hospital NHS Trust
	Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust
	Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Trust
	Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust
	Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust
	Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust
	Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust
	Royal Surrey County Hospital NHS Trust
	Royal United Hospital Bath NHS Trust
	Royal West Sussex NHS Trust
	Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust
	Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust
	Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust
	Scarborough and North East Yorkshire Health Care NHS Trust
	Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
	Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
	Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust
	South Devon Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
	South Staffordshire and Shropshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
	South Tees Hospitals NHS Trust
	South Tyneside NHS Foundation Trust
	South Warwickshire General Hospitals NHS Trust
	Southampton University Hospitals NHS Trust
	Southend University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
	Southport and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust
	St George's Healthcare NHS Trust
	St. Helens and Knowsley Hospitals NHS Trust
	St Mary's NHS Trust
	Stockport NHS Foundation Trust
	Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust
	Swindon and Marlborough NHS Trust
	Tameside and Glossop Acute Services NHS Trust
	Taunton and Somerset NHS Trust
	The Hillingdon Hospital NHS Trust
	The Lewisham Hospital NHS Trust
	The Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Trust
	The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
	The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust
	The Queen Elizabeth Hospital King's Lynn NHS Trust
	The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust
	The Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
	The Royal Wolverhampton Hospitals NHS Trust
	The Whittington Hospital NHS Trust
	Trafford Healthcare NHS Trust
	United Bristol Healthcare NHS Trust
	United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust
	University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
	University Hospital Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust
	University Hospital of North Staffordshire NHS Trust
	University Hospital of South Manchester NHS Foundation Trust
	University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust
	University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust
	University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Trust
	Walsall Hospitals NHS Trust
	Walton Centre For Neurology and Neurosurgery NHS Trust
	West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust
	West Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust
	West Suffolk Hospitals NHS Trust
	Weston Area Health NHS Trust
	Whipps Cross University Hospital NHS Trust
	Winchester and Eastleigh Healthcare NHS Trust
	Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
	Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust
	Worthing and Southlands Hospitals NHS Trust
	Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Trust
	Yeovil District Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
	York Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Medical Treatments Abroad: France

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions Ministers have had with their EU counterparts on the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council on  (a) the provision of healthcare to English nationals in France and  (b) electronic patient record-sharing across Europe.

Dawn Primarolo: Neither of these subjects was on the agenda of last weeks Employment, Social, Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council. In addition to regular meetings between officials there has been bilateral contact at ministerial level with the French Government about the provision of healthcare to United Kingdom nationals in France.
	There have been no recent discussions at ministerial level on electronic patient record-sharing across Europe.

Mental Health Services: Armed Forces

Richard Younger-Ross: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the provision of healthcare by his Department to former servicemen and women with combat stress.

Ivan Lewis: The Department takes very seriously the health needs of our troops when they return from serving their country. From 1948, successive Governments have been clear that healthcare for veterans is the responsibility of the national health service. We recently announced an extension of priority treatment provisions for veterans as well as the establishment, in partnership with the Ministry of Defence, of the first pilot projects aimed at making our mental health services more accessible to ex-service personnel.
	In addition, the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies programme will improve access to talking treatments to all victims of trauma, including those affected by combat experience. This programme has been funded by £170 million of new money and will eventually provide coverage to all parts of the country.

Mental Health Services: Suicide

Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate his Department has made of the number of suicides committed by people who have received treatment for mental illness in each of the last five years.

Ivan Lewis: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 15 October 2007,  Official Report, columns 925-26W.

Mentally Incapacitated: Protection

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many adult protection referrals have taken place in each local authority in England, broken down by the assessment level of the provider involved.

Ivan Lewis: This information is not currently collected centrally.
	On 14 June 2007, I announced that plans are being put in place to introduce a new national monitoring system to report the extent of abuse. This will be based on a standardised method for the collection of data on protection of vulnerable adult referrals in England. The Information Centre for health and social care is leading the work to develop and collect data from councils on a national basis.

Methadone: Durham

John Cummings: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people were prescribed methadone and other hard drug substitutes in  (a) County Durham and  (b) Easington constituency in each year since 2000.

Dawn Primarolo: The information is not available in the format requested. Dispensing data is collected by the number of prescription items and not by individuals. The following table contains figures for the number of prescriptions of methodone and buprenorphine in County Durham Primary Care Trust and predecessor organisations from 2003, the earliest full year for which information is available.
	
		
			   Methadone  Buprenorphine and buprenorphine with naloxone 
			 2003 12,478 1,386 
			 2004 17,433 2,298 
			 2005 21,598 3,579 
			 2006 25,130 6,588 
			  Notes/Sources:  Prescription information is taken from the Prescription Cost Analysis system, supplied by the Prescription Pricing Division of the Business Services Authority, and is based on a full analysis of all prescriptions dispensed in the community i.e. by community pharmacists and appliance contractors, dispensing doctors, and prescriptions submitted by prescribing doctors for items personally administered in England. Also included are prescriptions written in Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man but dispensed in England. The data do not cover drugs dispensed in hospitals, including mental health trusts, or private prescriptions. Prescription Items: prescriptions are written on a prescription form. Each single item written on the form is counted as a prescription item. County Durham Primary Care Trust (PCT) was formed in October 2006 from a merger of Durham Dales, Derwentside, Durham and Chester-le-Street, Easington and Sedgefield PCTs.

Midwives: Training

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the total cost was of training student midwives in the 2006-07 financial year.

Ann Keen: Information on the total cost of training student midwives in the 2006-07 financial year is not held centrally. The latest year for which data are available is the 2005-06 financial year when the total cost was estimated at £82.2 million.

Midwives: Training

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many midwifery training places were commissioned in each academic year since 1997-98.

Ann Keen: Information on the number of student midwives in each academic year since 1997-98 is shown in the following table.
	
		
			   Diploma  Degree  Total pre-registration  Other  Grand total 
			 1997-08 572 224 796 908 1,704 
			 1998-09 597 255 852 899 1,751 
			 1999-2000 620 395 1,015 757 1,772 
			 2000-01 604 494 1,098 789 1,887 
			 2001-02 525 621 1,146 732 1,878 
			 2002-03 651 724 1,375 752 2,127 
			 2003-04 716 753 1,469 790 2,259 
			 2004-05 744 895 1,639 735 2,374 
			 2005-06 517 1042 1559 661 2220 
			 2006-07 540 983 1523 467 1990 
			  Source: Quarterly monitoring/financial and workforce information return

Midwives: Training

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which higher education institutions offer training in midwifery.

Ann Keen: Information on the higher education institutions that offer training to student midwives, is not held by the Department. The Nursing and Midwifery Council is responsible for approving education institutions to run midwifery training programmes.

National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence intends to publish a review of its guidance on "Fertility: assessment and treatment for people with fertility problems", published on 25 February 2004.

Dawn Primarolo: The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) sets out a proposed review date when it publishes each new clinical guideline. We understand that the published review date for NICE's clinical guideline on "Fertility: assessment and treatment for people with fertility problems" is February 2008. At that point, NICE will take a view on whether the guideline requires an update. This will depend primarily on whether significant new information has become available since the guideline was originally published. If NICE decides that the guideline does not need to be updated, it will set out a new time scale for a future reassessment of the need for a review.

NHS: Managers

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the total wage cost of employing managers in the NHS was in the latest period for which figures are available; and what it was in 1997.

Ann Keen: Total costs of employing managers in the national health service in 2006-07 was £2,088 million. The total cost in 1997-98 was £912 million.
	The figures include salaries and wages, national insurance and pension contributions. It is not possible to identify wages alone.
	 Source:
	Annual financial returns of health authorities and NHS trusts 1997-98.
	Annual financial returns of strategic health authorities, primary care trusts and NHS trusts 2006-07.
	Data do not include NHS foundation trusts in 2006-07.

NHS: Overseas Visitors

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the number of  (a) people and  (b) children who would be denied access to medical care if the proposal to exclude overseas visitors from eligibility to free NHS primary medical services is implemented; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the likely effect on the incidence of communicable diseases in the general population if the proposal to exclude overseas visitors from eligibility to free NHS primary medical services is implemented; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  if he will publish all the written responses received by his Department to the consultation on the proposal to exclude overseas visitors from eligibility to Free NHS primary medical services;
	(4)  when he plans to publish the results of the consultation on the proposal to exclude overseas visitors from eligibility to free NHS primary medical services.

Dawn Primarolo: The responses to the 2004 consultation are being considered.
	No estimation has yet been made of the potential impact on people and children.
	All current regulations will take into account the key preventative and public health role of NHS primary care as well as international law and humanitarian principles.

Northern Lincolnshire and Goole Hospitals NHS Trust: Waiting Lists

Shona McIsaac: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the  (a) average and  (b) maximum waiting times for (i) inpatient and (ii) daycase admissions were in Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust in each of the last four quarters for which figures are available.

Ann Keen: The information requested has been set out in the following table.
	
		
			  Patient waiting for elective admission at Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust 
			   Quarter  Admission type  Total waiting list  Maximum weeks  Median wait (weeks) 
			 2006-07 Q3 Ordinary 1,364 25 to <26 7.8 
			  Q3 Daycase 4,773 25 to <26 6.2 
			   
			  Q4 Ordinary 1,210 19 to <20 5.9 
			  Q4 Daycase 4,231 19 to <20 4.8 
			   
			 2007-08 Q1 Ordinary 1,078 19 to <20 6.0 
			  Q1 Daycase 4,138 19 to <20 4.5 
			   
			  Q2 Ordinary 927 16 to <17 5.4 
			  Q2 Daycase 3,541 16 to <17 4.0 
			  Notes: 1. The average waiting times given are estimated from quarterly Korner returns (KH07) submitted by NHS providers to the Department of Health. 2. The figures show the median waiting times for patients still waiting for admission at the end of the period stated. Inpatient waiting times are measured from decisions to admit by the consultant to admission to hospital. 3. Median waiting times are calculated from aggregate data, rather than patient level data, and therefore are only estimates of the position on average waits. Where there are low numbers of waiters the median is prone to fluctuations. This should be taken into account when interpreting the data.  Source: Department of Health form KH07.

Nurses: Pay

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the average wage of nurses outside the NHS in  (a) the last year for which figures are available and  (b) 1997.

Ann Keen: No estimate has been made of the average wage of nurses outside the national health service in the last year for which figures are available and 1997. However, as part of its mandate, the independent NHS Pay Review Body compares NHS nurses' pay with others as part of its deliberations in making recommendations about pay uplifts for NHS nurses.

Nurses: Standards

Richard Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the risk of increased patient infections if visits from specialist nurses are capped as proposed in his Department's consultation on Part IX of the Drug Tariff.

Dawn Primarolo: The proposal set out in the consultation document regarding remuneration for home visits is not intended to impact adversely on infection control but rather to increase the transparency and the quality of services.
	No assessment has been made on the potential impact of these proposals on infection control but an impact assessment is being developed that will consider the social impact of them; this includes a health impact.

Nutrition: Training

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health on what date the inter-agency round table group met to raise issues around training, as described on page 17 of his Department's document, Improving Nutritional Care; what issues were raised; whether further meetings of the inter-agency round table group are planned; which agencies are represented on the round table group; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: The inter-agency round table group is chaired by the National Association for Care Catering and as such is independent of Government. The membership of the group and dates and contents of meetings are a matter for it to decide.

Obesity

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health on what date he expects the cross-Government strategy to tackle obesity to be published.

Dawn Primarolo: The cross-Government strategy to tackle obesity will be published in January 2008.

Paramedical Staff: Training

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on the use of  (a) vocational training courses and  (b) degree-level courses to train paramedics; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: The Department is working with partners to consider the options for educating a workforce that will achieve the aims set out in the national ambulance strategy. Strategic health authorities working with their ambulance trust and education partners are best placed to determine the best way to educate their workforce teams to meet local needs.

Patients: Nutrition

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health in what ways his Department has supported BAPEN's screening initiative, as referred to on page 14 of his Department's document, "Improving Nutritional Care".

Dawn Primarolo: The Department has supported the British Association Parental and Enteral Nutrition's National Screening Week by distributing information in advance of the initiative to health and social care organisations encouraging hospitals and care homes to take part in the exercise.

Patients: Nutrition

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 30 October 2007,  Official Report, column 1244W, on patients: nutrition, what the barriers to nutritional screening in hospitals identified in the two workshops hosted by the National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) were; in what ways the NPSA asked patients for their views on nutritional care in hospitals; what views were expressed by patients; and if he will provide a breakdown of the committed expenditure provided in the answer by major cost area.

Ann Keen: The following barriers to nutritional screening within 24 hours of admission to hospital were identified by the National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) at the two workshops: lack of equipment, weighing scales and height measures; lack of leadership; lack of clarity relating to screening and assessment; dependency of patients; credibility and usability of available screening tools; lack of education and training for medical and nursing staff and that it is not mandatory.
	The NPSA hosted two patient participation meetings in early 2007 to gain their views of nutritional care in hospitals. 27 patient representatives either nominated by Age Concern or recruited from the NPSA patient participation register attended these meetings. All of the participants had been hospital inpatients in the last two years. The meetings were facilitated externally.
	The patient participation meetings discussed the patients' experience of hospital food and focused in more detail on nutritional screening. Perhaps the most surprising finding of these workshops was that participants did not generally complaint about the quality of the food. Many, indeed, said that it was very reasonable or even good.
	Several commented that hospital food had improved beyond all recognition, noting earlier experiences when the food had been inedible. There was a concern to acknowledge this improvement, one commented:
	"it used to be cold fish and stale cabbage smells—you don't get that now".
	There were some issues raised relating to the availability and choice for some patient groups, specifically diabetics and people on a halal diet.
	There were considerable complaints about the way the food was served. The tendency for the food to be plated before reaching patients in some hospitals was disliked, as some people got too much, which was then wasted, and others did not get enough and went hungry.
	Getting food delivered was seen as the start. It must be possible for patients to reach it and then to be able to eat it. This is clearly not always the case. Sometimes food was put out of reach, so that someone had to move it closer to a patient. A number of participants recounted that they or others were unable to eat without help due to problems associated with their illness.
	Participants were asked if they had been aware of being screened while in hospital. Some were aware of being weighed, but not much else. Several said that they had lost substantial amounts of weight, but no one asked them about it. A few were aware of their height being checked. Very, very few remembered being asked any questions about what they ate, although some Asian participants had been asked about this and one person remembered being asked if he was diabetic.
	The costs of the workshops were £2,500. The balance is an approximation of the staff and non-pay costs associated with supporting this work and the work with the Royal College of Nursing.

Peterborough and Stamford Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust: Orthopaedics

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average waiting time was for elective orthopaedic surgery in the Peterborough and Stamford Hospitals NHS Trust in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: Information is not available for elective orthopaedic surgery alone at Peterborough and Stamford Hospital National Health Service Foundation Trust. The following table shows the in-patient waiting list statistics for the trauma and orthopaedic specialty for the Peterborough and Stamford NHS Hospital Foundation Trust.
	
		
			  Time period—month ending  Median waiting time of patients still waiting for in-patient admission (in weeks) 
			 March 1997 11.6 
			 March 1998 18.1 
			 March 1999 14.0 
			 March 2000 18.0 
			 March 2001 17.3 
			 March 2002 14.2 
			 March 2003 15.8 
			 March 2004 13.0 
			 March 2005 10.5 
			 March 2006 8.6 
			 March 2007 15.0 
			 September 2007 12.1 
			  Notes: 1. Elective orthopaedic surgery, is only a subset of trauma and orthopaedic specialty which is collected on the return. 2. The figures show the median waiting times for patients still waiting for admission at the end of the period stated. Inpatient waiting times are measure from decision to admit by the consultant to admission to hospital. 3. Median waiting times are calculated from aggregate data, rather than patient level data, and therefore are only estimates of the position on average waits. In particular, specialties with low numbers waiting are prone to fluctuations in the median. This should be taken into account when interpreting the data.  Source:  Department of Health KH07 Quarterly Monitoring

Peterborough District Hospital: Alcoholic Drinks

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many alcohol-related admissions to the accident and emergency department of Peterborough District Hospital by the East of England NHS Ambulance Trust and other agencies there were in each month since May 2005; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: Information is not available in the format requested. However, the following table shows the count of finished admission episodes where the admission method was via accident and emergency (A and E) for alcohol related diagnosis to Peterborough and Stamford NHS Foundation Trust for each month from April 2005 to March 2006 (which is the latest data available):
	
		
			  Month of admission  Total admission episodes 
			 April 66 
			 May 45 
			 June 66 
			 July 58 
			 August 63 
			 September 60 
			 October 63 
			 November 66 
			 December 58 
			 January 55 
			 February 36 
			 March 49 
			 Total: 685 
			  Notes:  Finished admission episodes A finished admission episode is the first period of in-patient care under one consultant within one healthcare provider. Admissions do not represent the number of in-patients, as a person may have more than one admission within the year.  Data Quality HES are compiled from data sent by over 300 national health service trusts and primary care trusts in England. The Information Centre for health and social care liaises closely with these organisations to encourage submission of complete and valid data and seeks to minimise inaccuracies and the effect of missing and invalid data via HES processes. While this brings about improvement over time, some shortcomings remain.  All diagnoses count of episodes These figures represent a count of all Finished Consultant Episodes where the diagnosis was mentioned in any of the 14 (seven prior to 2002-03) diagnosis fields in a HES record. ICD10 Diagnosis codes used: K70,T51,F10.  Source:  Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), the Information Centre for health and social care

Pregnancy Complications

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many diagnoses of ectopic pregnancy there have been in each year since 1997-98.

Ann Keen: Information is not available in the exact format requested. The following table has the number of ectopic pregnancies that resulted in a stay in a national health service hospital for each year since 1997-98.
	
		
			  Ectopic pregnancies that resulted in an NHS hospital stay, England, 1997-98 to 2005-06 
			   Number of ectopic pregnancies  Rate per 100 deliveries 
			 1997-98 9,300 1.6 
			 1998-99 9,100 1.6 
			 1999-2000 8,900 1.6 
			 2000-01 9,100 1.7 
			 2001-02 8,800 1.6 
			 2002-03 8,800 1.6 
			 2003-04 9,000 1.6 
			 2004-05 9,200 1.5 
			 2005-06 9,600 1.6 
			  Source: NHS Maternity Statistics, England: 2005-06. Hospital Episode Statistics.

Pressure Sores

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what data are routinely collected by  (a) the Commission for Social Care Inspection and  (b) the Healthcare Commission on the prevalence and severity of bed sores.

Ivan Lewis: Under regulation 37 of the Care Homes Regulations 2001, care home providers are required to notify the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) of instances of 'death, illness and other events'. We are informed by CSCI that it has defined 'other events' as including notification of pressure sores of grade 2 or above occurring while resident in a care home, as these constitute a serious injury to the service user. Where such cases occur, providers must inform CSCI immediately (by fax, e-mail or first class post).
	These data are used for the purposes of intelligence gathering. Inspectors will note the number of instances reported and make a judgement about whether to specifically include this as a focus at next inspection. Where information gathered, including concerns about the incidence of pressure sores in a particular home, indicates any serious risk to the experience of people living there, inspectors may bring forward an inspection programme or conduct an unannounced inspection. This information is collected and used locally by CSCI and is not collated centrally.
	Information about pressure sores is not routinely collected by the Healthcare Commission.

Provider of Care Services

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  whether there are plans to review the Commission for Social Care Inspection's current practice of referring complaints from members of the public about a care provider back to the provider; how many complaints about a provider of care services are required before an inspection is triggered; and what assessment he has made of any changes in the role of the Commission for Social Care Inspection;
	(2)  if he will make it his policy that the Commission for Social Care Inspection should have to make an additional inspection of a care home assessed as requiring a three yearly inspection in cases where there have been significant levels of staff turnover.

Ivan Lewis: We have no plans to review the Commission for Social Care Inspection's role in complaints. We are informed by the Chair of the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) that the threshold for intervention by CSCI is not measured uniquely in terms of the number of complaints about a provider. It is one of a number of factors that CSCI take into account.
	CSCI has developed, through the inspection methodology, "Inspecting for Better Lives", a proportionate inspection framework based on risk. This enables CSCI to focus its resources on those homes that have been assessed as requiring the most improvement. Minimum inspection frequencies are based on quality ratings as follows:
	homes classified as 'poor' receive two key inspections per year;
	homes classified as 'adequate' receive one key inspection per year;
	homes classified as 'good' receive one key inspection every two years; and
	homes classified as 'excellent' receive one key inspection every three years;
	Even when a home is judged to be 'good' or 'excellent', it will continue to be monitored throughout the period and CSCI will act on any concerns, complaints or allegations. In addition to key inspections, which are thorough, detailed inspections, under which CSCI will assess all of the key national minimum standards, CSCI also carries out random and 'thematic' inspections, which are short, focused inspections on a specific theme or area.
	Annual Service Reviews are also conducted from information obtained from the home and a report produced on an annual basis. Reviews are an analysis of all information that CSCI has gathered since the last key inspection, information submitted each year from the service itself and information from surveys sent to people who use the service and other interested parties. The assessment will consider matters such as staff turnover; if any concerns are raised about how well outcomes are being met for the people who use the services, or if CSCI receives information that causes concern between reviews, it will bring forward the date of the key inspection of the service. CSCI retains the power to conduct an inspection of any home at any time.

Ritalin: Children

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children in  (a) the East of England and  (b) Suffolk were prescribed Ritalin in each of the last five years.

Ivan Lewis: Information is not collected in the format requested. In March 2006, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) published guidance on the use of all drugs used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). They estimated that around 5 per cent. of school-aged children meet the diagnostic criteria for ADHD, equivalent to 366,000 children and adolescents in England and Wales, but not all these children will require medication.
	We have also asked NICE to develop a clinical guideline on both the pharmacological and psychological interventions to treat ADHD. The guideline will cover the care provided by primary, community and secondary health care professionals who have direct contact with, and make decisions concerning, the care of children, young people and adults with ADHD.
	The guideline will include:
	care in general practice and national health service community care;
	hospital out-patient and in-patient care;
	primary/secondary interface of care and
	transition from childhood services to adult services.
	Publication of the guideline is expected in July 2008.

Skin Cancer: Health Education

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department has allocated to the Sunsmart campaign in each year from 2007-08 to 2010-11.

Dawn Primarolo: Cancer Research UK, which runs the SunSmart campaign on behalf of the United Kingdom Health Departments, has been awarded funding of £104,000 for 2007-08 by the Department (under the provisions of section 64 of the Health Services and Public Health Act 1968). Provisionally and subject to the availability of funds approved by Parliament it has also been awarded £110,000 for 2008-09, and £115,000 for 2009-10.

Social Services: Expenditure

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reason expenditure on grants for adult personal social services in 2006-07 was £267 million less than the plans set out in his Department's 2006 annual report.

Ivan Lewis: The Department's 2006 annual report set out expenditure on grants for adult personal social services in 2006-07 of £1,688.8 million. Of this, £1,590.4 million was revenue grants and £98.4 million was capital resources including Supported Capital Expenditure (Revenue).
	The Specific Grant Resources allocated by the Department in 2006-07 totalled £1,644.948 million. Of this, £1,596.848 million was allocated to revenue grants. This is £6.485 million higher than the resources allocated in the annual report, due to this sum being made available to fund new pressures from the Mental Capacity Act and Independent Mental Capacity Advocate Service. £48.1 million was allocated to specific capital grants and a further £50.3 million of capital funding was allocated to Supported Capital Expenditure (Revenue). Total capital expenditure was £98.4 million, as set out in the annual report.

Social Services: Finance

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library the report of the review by the Social Care Funding Group.

Ivan Lewis: The review of social care funding, led by Her Majesty's Treasury, was an internal Government exercise and therefore the report is not available in the public domain.

Social Services: Inspections

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many providers of adult social care services are regulated by the Commission for Social Care Inspection; and what proportion of all providers of adult social care services regulated by the Commission for Social Care Inspection have had their assessment level changed from 3 to 1 as a result of an inspection since 1st April 2006.

Ivan Lewis: The number of adult care services registered with the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) on 9 November 2007 was 24,405.
	The number of services that remained active in the period from 1 April 2006 until 9 November 2007 is 21,257. Of these, 236 services that had a quality rating of level 3 on 1 April 2006 were then at rating level 1 on 9 November 2007. This is a proportion of 0.0111 (a percentage of 1.11 per cent.) of the services active between both dates.

Social Services: Personal Records

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what social care information the Information Centre for Health and Social Care has identified as being relevant at a  (a) national and  (b) local level, as stated on the our priorities for 2007-08 section of its website; and what progress the Information Centre has made in (i) providing a forum for sharing good practice across information specialists in social care, (ii) forging greater integration of social care and health information, (iii) setting appropriate standards for social care data collection and (iv) producing a publication on the state of the nation using all the Information Centre's sources of data on social care and other sources as appropriate.

Ivan Lewis: The publication of the New Performance Framework for Local Authorities and Local Authority Partnerships, in October, has led to a review of all the Information Centre for Health and Social Care's (IC) social care data, with a view to establishing which social care information is used at national and/or at local level.
	The IC is currently engaging with stakeholders to establish a National Information and Intelligence Service. This will make better use of the extensive information resource available in locally managed systems and will provide the basis for integrated information in health and social care during 2008.
	Social care data collections undertaken by the IC are subject to stringent standards which are regularly reviewed and revised by the Strategic Information Group for Adult Social Care. A specific work programme has been established to review these and other arrangements for setting standards (by March 2008). A decision has been taken for the Information Standards Board, which currently operates across the national health service, to extend its remit to cover social care.
	The State of the Nation report will be available by the end of March 2008. It will outline the IC's social care data and set out a work programme for 2008-11.

Sport

Graham Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many officials in his Department work on policy on encouraging mass participation in sport.;
	(2)  what changes in the allocation of responsibilities for policy on sport between the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and his Department have taken place since he became Secretary of State;
	(3)  how much his Department plans to spend on encouraging mass participation in sport in 2007-08.

Dawn Primarolo: The Department has an important role in promoting the benefits of physical activity for all as set out in the Chief Medical Officer's report 'At least five a week: Evidence on the impact of physical activity and its relationship to health'. We have worked closely with other Government Departments, including the Department for Culture Media and Sport, the Department for Children, Families and Schools and the Department for Transport to deliver the existing strategy for physical activity set out in 'Choosing Activity: a physical activity action plan'.
	While competitive sport contributes significantly to physical activity levels across the population, encouraging mass participation in sport has hitherto fallen within the remit of Sport England.
	HM Treasury has asked the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, to develop a new strategy for Sport England. Ministers have also agreed to work closely over the next few months to ensure that all relevant Government Departments are working together to deliver a physical activity strategy for all. Any changes in responsibilities for policy on physical activity, including the promotion of mass participation in sport, would emerge from this work.
	The Department has no plans to fund work to encourage mass participation in sport in 2007-08. However, we are providing funding of £97,000 to the Amateur Swimming Association under the section 64 Scheme of Grants for a project that promotes swimming for health.

STDs

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 3rd December 2007, Official Report, column 1015W, on sexually transmitted diseases, if he will break down the figures supplied by age-group.

Dawn Primarolo: The information requested for genitor urinary clinics (GUM) is published by age bands in 'Diagnoses and rates of selected STIs seen in GUM clinics: 2002-2006 National and Strategic Health Authority Level Summary tables'. A copy has been placed in the Library. Similar information for the national chlamydia screening programme has also be placed in the Library.

Surgery: Eastern Region

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS operations were cancelled in each primary care trust in the east of England as a result of  (a) administrative errors,  (b) shortages of beds,  (c) outbreaks of MRSA or other hospital-acquired infections,  (d) unavailability of correct or clean equipment and  (e) missing notes in each year since 1997.

Ivan Lewis: The information is not held in the format requested. The Department collects data on the number of operations cancelled at the last minute for non-clinical reasons for acute trusts in the east of England for the period 1997-98 to 2006-07 and the first quarter of 2007-08. The following table shows data for the number of operations cancelled for non-clinical reasons, national health service organisations in the east of England, 1997-98 to 2006-07 and the first quarter of 2007-08.
	
		
			  Cancelled operations for non clinical reasons, NHS organisations in East of England, 2001-02 to 2006-07 and quarter 1 2007-08 
			  Number of last minute cancellations for non clinical reasons 
			  Organisation identification  Name  1997-98  1998-99  1999-2000  2000-01  2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 quarter 1 
			  England 50,505 56,150 60,242 77,818 81,743 67,254 66,303 68,569 60,803 52,005 12,492 
			  
			 RDD Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust — — — — 213 212 266 286 278 169 37 
			 RC1 Bedford Hospital NHS Trust — — — — 793 152 180 201 190 208 38 
			 RGT Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust — — — — 624 645 769 1,090 507 460 108 
			 RWH East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust — — — — 345 266 557 505 856 682 180 
			 RDE Essex Rivers Healthcare NHS Trust — — — — 444 741 815 800 439 172 62 
			 RQQ Hinchingbrooke Health Care NHS Trust — — — — 377 179 180 168 138 133 43 
			 RGQ Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust — — — — 506 417 488 533 384 355 129 
			 RGP James Paget Healthcare NHS Trust — — — — 322 176 258 267 226 140 32 
			 RC9 Luton and Dunstable Hospital NHS Trust — — — — 379 208 171 169 173 186 26 
			 RQ8 Mid Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust — — — — 264 419 470 447 370 257 113 
			 RM1 Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital NHS Trust — — — — 217 662 569 492 327 332 99 
			 RGM Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust — — — — 168 185 166 159 154 167 25 
			 RGN Peterborough and Stamford NHS Foundation Trust — — — — 505 253 187 270 298 262 92 
			 RAJ Southend Hospital NHS Trust — — — — 400 509 691 1,007 869 472 98 
			 RQW The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust — — — — 493 323 262 213 311 293 61 
			 RWG West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust — — — — 562 244 815 666 621 929 234 
			 RGR West Suffolk Hospitals NHS Trust — — — — 362 194 425 585 275 225 36 
			 QA6 Bedfordshire HA 347 457 368 694 — — — — — — — 
			 QER Cambridgeshire HA 974 1,037 1449 1,467 — — — — — — — 
			 QEP East and North Hertfordshire HA 426 569 532 490 — — — — — — — 
			 QCA East Norfolk HA 169 246 — — — — — — — — — 
			 QET Norfolk HA — — 796 824 — — — — — — — 
			 QAX North Essex HA 700 1,000 1,266 1,246 — — — — — — — 
			 QCD North West Anglia HA 402 826 — — — — — — — — — 
			 QAY South Essex HA 767 1,260 1,045 1,299 — — — — — — — 
			 QCF Suffolk Health 624 592 509 955 — — — — — — — 
			 QEQ West Hertfordshire HA 142 255 214 425 — — — — — — — 
			  Notes: 1. The table shows the organisations as they existed, at the time of each collection. 2. A last minute cancellation is one that occurs on the day the patient was due to arrive, after they have arrived in hospital or on the day of their operation.  3. Some common non-clinical reasons for cancellations by the hospital include: ward beds unavailable; surgeon unavailable; emergency case needing theatre; theatre list over-ran; equipment failure; admin error; anaesthetist unavailable; theatre staff unavailable; and critical care bed unavailable. 4. An operation which is rescheduled to a time within 24 hours of the original scheduled operation should be recorded as a postponement and not as a cancellation. The QMCO collection does not record the number of postponements.  Source: Department of Health dataset QMCO

Tobacco: Vending Machines

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he last held discussions with the National Association of Cigarette Machine Operators.

Dawn Primarolo: Departmental officials last met with the National Association of Vending Machine Operators in June 2007, and have plans to meet with the organisation again in February 2008.

Wheelchairs: Waiting Lists

Richard Younger-Ross: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the  (a) longest and  (b) average waiting time for electric wheelchair provision was in the last 12 months; and what steps he is taking to reduce waiting times.

Ivan Lewis: The information requested is not held centrally.
	With regard to waiting times, it is the responsibility of local health and social care organisations to prioritise and allocate funding for wheelchairs based on their knowledge of the needs of their local populations. To support this process the Government recently announced, through the comprehensive spending review, that local authority funding will increase by £2.6 billion by 2010-11 and national health service funding will increase from £35 billion in 1997-98 to £110 billion in 2010-11.
	As part of the Transforming Community Equipment and Wheelchair Services Programme the Department has been working collaboratively with service users and carers to develop a new model which will deliver an improved experience for the people who need equipment and wheelchairs, as well as those who care for them. The Department is currently undertaking a data collection process to develop a business case for change. The analysis of the information gathered has begun and a report will be provided in December.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Business: Non-Domestic Rates

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate her Department has made of the aggregate yearly additional revenue that would be raised were every local authority in England with the power to levy a supplementary rate to levy the maximum supplementary business rate.

John Healey: An estimate of the aggregate yearly additional revenue by region that would be raised were every local authority in England with the power to levy a business rate supplement to levy the maximum business rate supplement is published in Table 3.4 of 'Business rate supplements: a White Paper'. This is available on the Communities and Local Government website at the following link:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/localgovemment/504933

Council Housing: Debts

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the historic debt outstanding against council house construction was in each year since 1990 in  (a) cash terms and  (b) as a proportion of the public sector borrowing requirement; and what the projection for these figures is, including borrowing supported by arms-length management organisations.

Iain Wright: Data on historic debt outstanding against council house construction are not available, as local authorities do not differentiate the uses to which their capital borrowing for housing is put between, for instance, new build, capital repairs, capital improvements or refurbishments.
	The net amount of borrowing on council housing since 1993-94, as well as the proportion of public sector net borrowing that this represents for each year, is set out in the following table. Net, rather than gross figures are given for the value of housing debt in order to provide a comparison with the measure of public sector borrowing—this is expressed as a net figure and is negative where debt repayment exceeds borrowing for that year.
	
		
			   HRA Borrowing (£)  Public sector net borrowing (PSBN) (£)  HRA Borrowing/PSBN (Percentage) 
			 1993-94 347,455,678 51,054,000,000 0.68 
			 1994-95 431,792,337 43,271,000,000 1.00 
			 1995-96 -170,209,016 34,713,000,000 -0.49 
			 1996-97 -435,801,552 27,170,000,000 -1.60 
			 1997-98 -504,249,410 6,374,000,000 -7.91 
			 1998-99 -678,146,182 4,017,000,000 16.88 
			 1999-2000 -542,751,024 16,251,000,000 3.34 
			 2000-01 -880,453,782 19,896,000,000 4.43 
			 2001-02 -14,679,989 921,000,000 -1.59 
			 2002-03 -1,166,619,645 24,916,000,000 -4.68 
			 2003-04 -2,415,662,009 34,094,000,000 -7.09 
			 2004-05 -1,120,419,927 39,189,000,000 -2.86 
			 2005-06 418,022,901 37,516,000,000 1.11 
			 2006-07 1,212,183,164 35,848,615,071 3.38 
			  Notes: 1. From 2001-02 onwards the Department did not collect data on local authority borrowing for council housing from those authorities with no notional housing debt (used in calculating HRA subsidy entitlement) 2. Negative housing debt is an indication that housing authorities were repaying more debt than they were incurring. Negative PSBN is occasionally negative for the same reason but at a national level. 3. The figures are unaudited and based on claims submitted by local authorities. 4. Pre 1993-94 data is only available at disproportionate cost. 5. 2007-08 data is not available as the financial year is not finished yet. 6. Projections for future years are not available.

Council Tax

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the annual percentage change in average Band D council tax was in England in real terms in each year since its introduction.

John Healey: Details of the annual percentage change in the average Band D, 2 adult, council tax in England, in real terms, since the introduction of council tax can be found on page eight of the Communities and Local Government's publication 'Local Government Finance Key Facts : England' that was published on 14 November.
	A copy can be found on the Communities and Local Government's website at:
	http://www.local.communities.gov.uk/finance/stats/keystats/key2007.pdf.

Council Tax: Renewable Energy

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether the presence of ground source heat pumps would be taken into account in the valuation of a property for council tax purposes by the Valuation Office Agency.

John Healey: Provisions in the Council Tax (Alterations of Lists and Appeals) Regulations 1993, which have been in force since council tax was introduced, mean that adding energy efficient measures, such ground source heat pumps, or making any other improvements to a property will have no effect on its current council tax banding.
	If a property is sold, improvements may have an effect, but only if they are such that they push the value of the property into the next band range. Only substantial improvements would be likely to move a property up a band when it is sold. Energy efficiency measures are, in isolation, unlikely to do so.

Councillors' Commission: Secondment

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many full-time equivalent civil servants from her Department are seconded to the Councillors' Commission.

Parmjit Dhanda: Communities and Local Government allocated four full-time equivalent staff to run the Secretariat of the Councillors Commission over the period April to the end of November.

Departmental Parliamentary Questions

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will place in the Library a copy of her Department's internal guidance on  (a) answering written parliamentary questions and  (b) ministerial corrections to oral and written parliamentary questions.

Parmjit Dhanda: The Department's guidance on writing answers to parliamentary questions has been deposited in the Library of the House.
	The Leader of the House made a written ministerial statement on "Corrections to the Official Report" on 18 October 2006,  Official Report, column 1856WS. At the same time, my right. hon Friend issued guidance to Departments a copy of which was deposited in the Library of the House. Communities and Local Government follow that guidance for any ministerial corrections to oral and written parliamentary questions.

Departmental Parliamentary Questions

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when she expects to reply to Question 165129, on the Thames Gateway Forum tabled by the hon. Member for Thurrock on 13 November 2007.

Yvette Cooper: I have now replied to my hon. Friend's question.

EU Grants and Loans: North West Region

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on what date the European Commission suspended approval for European Regional Development Fund payments to the Government Office North West and Government Office North East; when those suspensions were lifted; and what interim transitional payments were made to those regions by the Government.

John Healey: holding answer 11 December 2007
	The European Commission suspended ERDF grant payments to the North West Objective 1 and Objective 2 programmes, and the North East Objective 2 programme on 11 April 2007. The temporary suspension was formally lifted for the North East and North West Objective 1 programmes on 11 September 2007. In the case of the North West Objective 2 programme we are carrying out urgent further work to re-assure the Commission before a final decision is taken. I have also met with Commissioner Hubner and held a further discussion with her to offer the reassurance that we are taking all steps possible to deal with the Commission's concerns.
	The Government are continuing to pay all ERDF projects where eligible claims are made.

Floods

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether she plans to revise Regional Spatial Strategies' flood risk assessments, in light of  (a) recent flooding,  (b) climate change and  (c) the Lessons Learned review.

Parmjit Dhanda: Planning Policy Statement 25 (PPS25) was published in December 2006 to provide stronger planning policy on development and flood risk. It incorporates the latest forecasts of climate change. It also requires regional planning bodies to ensure their regional spatial strategies include a broad consideration of flood risk from all sources and set out a strategy for managing it. This process is informed by regional flood risk appraisals (RFRAs), which are based on the most up to date information on flood risk. RFRAs should be updated in line with future revisions of the regional spatial strategy. We will be taking careful note of the recommendations of Sir Michael Pitt's review of the lessons learned from the summer floods, and will be looking at whether any of the detail of PPS25 needs to be revised.

Housing: Renewable Energy

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate the Valuation Office Agency has made of the number of domestic dwellings with  (a) wind turbines and  (b) solar panels.

John Healey: No such estimate has been made.

Local Government Finance

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate her Department has made of the changes in local authority expenditure on adult social services expected to result from demographic change over the next three years.

Ivan Lewis: I have been asked to reply.
	The local government settlement and the scope to deliver efficiency gains is sufficient to cover increases in demand on social care. The settlement is informed by an analysis of all cost pressures, including modelling of demographic changes within the age group 18-65 years and people over 65 years.

Local Government Finance

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what proportion of the £5 billion reduction in ring-fenced and specific grants by 2010-11 will be re-allocated to  (a) revenue support grant and  (b) area-based grant;
	(2)  what proportion of the reduction in ring-fencing by 2010-11 will be achieved by transferring specific grants to  (a) revenue support grant and  (b) area based grant tied into Local Area Agreements.

John Healey: By 2010-11, £5.6 billion of former specific grant funding will be moving to either formula grant or area based grant. The £5.6 billion is comprised of £0.9 billion re-allocated to formula grant and £4.7 billion being provided as area based grant.

Local Government Finance: Herefordshire

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when she plans to announce the local government funding settlement for Herefordshire council; and if she will make a statement.

John Healey: I announced to the House the provisional settlement for English local authorities, including Herefordshire, on 6 December,  Official Report, column 981.

Non-Domestic Rates

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate the Government has made of the expected yearly increase in business rate receipts if a supplementary business rate were introduced.

John Healey: Revenue from business rate supplements would be retained by the individual local authorities who levy them so will not increase business rate receipts to the national non-domestic rating pool.

Ordnance Survey

Mark Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government for what reason her Department paid £2,260,000 to Ordnance Survey in 2006-07.

Iain Wright: The Department did not pay Ordnance Survey such a sum in 2006-07. The Department did receive a similar sum from Ordnance Survey in 2007-08 by way of an additional receipt, as part of the Department's agreed dividend policy with Ordnance Survey.

Planning Permission: Finance

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether her Department is providing guidance to local authorities following the ruling of the Information Tribunal upholding the complaint by Mr. David Markinson on unreasonable costs for photocopying building control and planning application information.

Iain Wright: The Government issued guidance in November 2003 "General Power for Best Value Authorities to Charge for Discretionary Services—Guidance on the Power in the Local Government Act 2003" which sets out discretionary charges which local authorities can charge for some of their services. However, the specific issue of photocopying charges is not covered in this guidance.
	The Government have no plans to issue new guidance as a result of the ruling of the Information Tribunal.

Planning: Parking

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the Government's recommended maximum limit is on the number of parking spaces for new residential developments, following the publication of Planning Policy Statement 3.

Iain Wright: The Government do not prescribe car parking standards or maximum limits for new residential development. Rather, Planning Policy Statement 3 "Housing" introduced a more flexible approach to the local provision of car parking by giving local planning authorities the ability to set their own residential parking policies, taking account of expected levels of car ownership, the importance of promoting good design and the need to use land efficiently.

Preventing Violent Extremism Pathfinder Fund: Grants

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many grants have been made from the Preventing Violent Extremism Pathfinder Fund to each local authority since the fund was established; and what the average size of grant was.

Parmjit Dhanda: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State shall be writing shortly to the hon. Member with a list of projects funded under the Preventing Violent Extremism Pathfinder fund. This will also provide an overview of financial allocations. A copy of this document will be placed in the Library of the House.

Regeneration: Finance

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what sums the Bridging Newcastle Gateshead Pathfinder have requested to support regeneration in the west of Newcastle.

Iain Wright: Bridging Newcastle Gateshead has submitted its Business Plan for 2008 to 2011 to the Department and the Plan is now being considered. The Plan does not provide details of how funding will be allocated to specific localities within the Pathfinder area.

Sleeping Rough: Immigrants

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment she has made of the increase in rough sleeping in London arising from changes in the immigration from east European nations following EU enlargement.

Iain Wright: Local authorities who conduct rough sleeper counts collect information on any individuals sleeping rough who do not have recourse to public funds and are therefore unable to be moved off the streets. These will include those from EU accession states.
	In 2007, four London boroughs reported eastern European rough sleepers as part of their street count:
	Westminster: 112 rough sleepers including 20 eastern Europeans;
	City of London: 45 rough sleepers including five eastern Europeans;
	Lambeth: 15 rough sleepers including three eastern Europeans;
	Redbridge: five rough sleepers including two eastern Europeans.
	There has been major progress in tackling the worst form of homelessness, that of people sleeping on the streets. Since 1998 we have reduced rough sleeping by 73 per cent. Councils will receive at least £150 million over the next three years to help them prevent and tackle homelessness including rough sleeping. This is the biggest ever cash injection for homelessness services.
	We are funding Homeless Link to take forward targeted work to address homelessness among eastern Europeans. This involves both work with voluntary organisations, particularly in London, and organisations in the source countries to facilitate returns.

Small Businesses: Tax Allowances

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the estimated take-up rate is of small business rate relief in England.

John Healey: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Social Rented Housing: Finance

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the total financial contribution from the public purse to registered social landlords was in each year since 1997; and how much of this was spent on  (a) building new social homes and  (b) meeting the decent homes standard for homes on their stock.

Iain Wright: The following table shows public expenditure through the Housing Corporation's programmes between 1997-98 to 2006-07 broken down by that provided for social rented homes (both new build and acquisition and refurbishment) and works to RSL stock.
	
		
			  £ million 
			   Total public expenditure via Housing Corporation by RSLs  Of which: Provision of social housing  Major repairs and works to RSL stock 
			 1997-98 727 519 66 
			 1998-99 732 580 40 
			 1999-2000 815 706 34 
			 2000-01 830 680 60 
			 2001-02 823 668 63 
			 2002-03 1,030 800 43 
			 2003-04 1,805 1,258 54 
			 2004-05 1,624 1,078 47 
			 2005-06 1,598 933 35 
			 2006-07 1,923 1,433 38 
		
	
	RSLs are registered with and regulated by the Housing Corporation. The regulatory code, requires them to meet the Decent Homes Standard by 2010. RSLs are expected to meet the cost of decent homes from within their own resources.

Stakeholder

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what her Department's definition is of a stakeholder.

Parmjit Dhanda: I refer the hon. Member to the Oxford English Dictionary, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House. It says
	"a person with an interest or concern in something".

Tamworth Borough Council: Finance

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  how much was spent by Tamworth borough council in each of the last four financial years;
	(2)  what revenue Tamworth borough council received from  (a) Government grants,  (b) (i) domestic and (ii) non-domestic council tax,  (c) the sale of assets and  (d) other sources in each of the last four financial years.

John Healey: The gross expenditure, comprising capital and cost of services revenue (the latter excluding appropriations, interest and other accounting adjustments) of Tamworth borough council was:
	
		
			   £ million 
			 2003-04 56.08 
			 2004-05 58.317 
			 2005-06 64.88 
			 2007-08 59.311 
		
	
	Tamworth borough council's revenue from Government grants was:
	
		
			   £ million 
			 2003-04 10.468 
			 2004-05 18.361 
			 2005-06 20.2 
			 2006-07 19.38 
		
	
	Tamworth borough council's revenue from domestic council tax was:
	
		
			   £ million 
			 2003-04 2.383 
			 2004-05 2.57 
			 2005-06 2.726 
			 2006-07 2.865 
		
	
	Tamworth borough council's revenue from National non-domestic rates redistribution was:
	
		
			   £ million 
			 2003-04 2.603 
			 2004-05 2.031 
			 2005-06 2.141 
			 2006-07 5.227 
		
	
	Tamworth borough council's revenue from sale of assets was:
	
		
			   £ million 
			 2003-04 9.18 
			 2004-05 8.351 
			 2005-06 6.066 
			 2006-07 5.849 
		
	
	Tamworth borough council's revenue from 'any other source' (comprising rents, fees and charges) was:
	
		
			   £ million 
			 2003-04 31.446 
			 2004-05 27.004 
			 2005-06 33.747 
			 2006-07 25.99

Temporary Accommodation: Standards

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  whether her Department has published a summary of responses to its May 2003 consultation paper, Improving Standards of Accommodation for Homeless Households Placed in Temporary Accommodation;
	(2)  which organisations responded to her Department's consultation paper, Improving Standards of Accommodation for Homeless Households Placed in Temporary Accommodation in May 2003;
	(3)  what the reasons were for deciding against publishing guidance on the minimum standards in temporary accommodation for homeless households proposed in her Department's consultation paper from May 2003.

Iain Wright: The consultation paper, Improving Standards of Accommodation for Homeless Households Placed in Temporary Accommodation was published by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister in May 2003.
	I have deposited in the Library of the House a summary of the responses to the consultation which includes the full list of respondents at Annex A.
	The consultation paper, included the following proposal:
	"The Secretary of State intends to issue guidance re-stating and specifying the minimum standards of accommodation that housing authorities should have regard to when considering whether temporary accommodation is suitable for homeless person they seek to place in such accommodation."
	This proposal was implemented through the inclusion of guidance in the revised Homelessness Code of Guidance for Local Authorities, issued in July 2006. Chapter 17 of the Code, Suitability of Accommodation, provides guidance on the factors to be taken into account when determining the suitability of temporary accommodation secured under the homelessness legislation, including fitness for habitation, housing healthy and safety, overcrowding and houses in multiple occupation. Also in chapter 17, the Secretary of State recommends minimum standards that should be taken into account by local authorities when assessing whether bed and breakfast accommodation is suitable. The recommended minimum standards are set out in detail in annex 17 of the Code. Annex 16 of the Code sets out the statutory definition of overcrowding.
	The Homelessness Code of Guidance for Local Authorities is available on the Department for Communities and Local Government's website at:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/housing/homelessness/publicationsabouthomelessness/informationlocal/homelessnesscode/

Thames Gateway Forum: Official Hospitality

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate she has made of the cost to the public purse of the dinner at the Thames Gateway Forum on 28 November at Excel, London; from what budget funding will be drawn; and if she will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: holding answer 20 November 2007
	Communities and Local Government has not contributed any money to the cost of the Thames Gateway Forum dinner. The Thames Gateway Forum dinner is a private sector endeavour run by CMPi, the organisation that manages the whole Thames Gateway Forum event.

JUSTICE

Courts: Gwent

Jessica Morden: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what plans he has to provide new court buildings in Gwent.

Maria Eagle: The provision of new court facilities in Newport, Gwent is a priority for Her Majesty's Courts Service (HMCS). HMCS are developing proposals on how best to deliver these facilities to ensure they are both affordable and represent value for money.

Divorce Courts: Children

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps the Government has taken to minimise the burden of court proceedings relating to divorce for children affected.

Bridget Prentice: The welfare of any child is of paramount importance where children are the subject in family proceedings. Irrespective of parents' marital status, children are most often the subject of proceedings about contact and residence arrangements following parental separation.
	The Government believe that court is not always the best place to resolve these disputes. Court proceedings can prolong parental conflict which is damaging for children. Unless there are safety issues, it is generally better for the children concerned that parents reach agreement themselves. In "Parental Separation: Children's Needs and Parents' Responsibilities" (January 2005) the Government announced a range of measures to support this aim, including promoting family mediation which can offer advantages over going to court, especially where children are involved.
	Children can find the court process frustrating and stressful if they feel that their wishes and feelings are being ignored. Where parents cannot agree, the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (CAFCASS) has a key role in ascertaining the wishes and feelings of the child involved, dependent on their age and understanding. In the most difficult cases, the court can request that the child is separately represented to ensure that their views are properly heard.
	When parents do come to court, there is still the opportunity for them to reach agreement themselves and avoid the stress, for them and their children, of a contested hearing. In-court conciliation is a service available in most family courts which aims to facilitate agreement between the parents when they first attend court. The Government commissioned Dr. Liz Trinder of the university of East Anglia to evaluate the effectiveness of various models of in-court conciliation and to look at longer-term outcomes.
	The latest report, published on 21 November, found that two years following conciliation, the great majority (79 per cent.) of cases had an agreement about contact and were closed. More children were having overnight contact and the overall amount of contact per child had increased since the initial conciliation intervention. However, during the two years following the intervention, the majority of parents had required further professional intervention and 40 per cent. had been involved in further litigation. Around 60 per cent. of agreements made at the 'original' conciliation meeting had been changed or had broken down by the two-year follow-up.
	The well-being of parents had improved significantly and was at a similar level to those who had not come to court. However, this improvement was not apparent in children. After two years, 35-43 per cent. of these children still had borderline or abnormal well-being scores.
	The report recommends the development of more relationship-based or therapeutically-orientated interventions as additional family justice systems or as referral-based services. The Government recognise that more needs to be done to support these parents and have already legislated to provide the courts with powers to refer parents to more therapeutic activities designed to help them overcome some of the underlying issues they face. These issues can often act as barriers that prevent parents from making arrangements that work for their children. The Government will shortly announce the timetable for implementing these provisions.

Electronic Tagging

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many individuals are electronically tagged in  (a) England and  (b) Wales, broken down by the companies carrying out the monitoring.

David Hanson: On 30 November 2007, 16,519 individuals in England and 698 individuals in Wales were subject to electronic monitoring of a curfew. In England, 11,226 were monitored by Group4Securicor (G4S) and 5,293 by Serco. In Wales, all 698 were monitored by Serco, which holds the contract for the West Midlands and Wales Area

Fatal Accident Inquiry System

Adam Ingram: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what discussions he has had with the Scottish Executive on its plans to reform the Fatal Accident Inquiry system in order to allow inquiries into the deaths overseas of armed forces personnel who are based in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

Bridget Prentice: My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Justice and the Lord Chancellor (Mr. Straw) had the opportunity to raise this issue with Kenny MacAskill when he spoke to him recently. It was agreed that our officials should meet to explore possible ways forward on this issue.
	The Government are committed to helping bereaved families by holding inquests as close to home as possible and is pleased that the Scottish Executive is now addressing this issue.

Identity Cards

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 19 November 2007,  Official Report, column 513W, on national identity cards, what budget has been allocated for the consultation referred to.

Michael Wills: We are still finalising the budget for the process of engagement to develop a British statement of values. Parliament and the public can be assured that the Government will look for value for money in carrying out this programme.

Legal Services Commission: Information and Communications Technology

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people are registered to use the Legal Services Commission's new IT system for online reporting of case outcomes and solicitors' claims for costs.

Maria Eagle: The Legal Services Commission issued 8,882 LSC online passwords to all legal aid contract holders. Some providers have more than one office and would therefore require more than one password.

Legal Services Commission: Information and Communications Technology

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  what the reason was for the delay in the launching of the Legal Services Commission's new IT system for online reporting of case outcomes and solicitors' claims for costs; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what funding his Department has provided for the Legal Services Commission's new IT system for online reporting of case outcomes and solicitors' claims for costs; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what assessment has been made of the effectiveness of the Legal Services Commission's new IT system for online reporting of case outcomes and solicitors claims for costs; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: I refer the hon. Member to the replies I gave to the hon. Member for North-West Norfolk (Mr. Bellingham) on 5 December 2007,  Official  Report, column 1260W.

Ministerial Duties: Public Sector

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice which Minister has responsibility for public sector information.

Michael Wills: I am the Minister responsible for the Office of Public Sector Information. The Department for Constitutional Affairs, the predecessor to the Ministry of Justice, took over responsibility for public sector information from the Cabinet Office on 31 October 2006.

Offenders: Unemployment

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how the piloting of withdrawal of benefits from unemployed offenders who do not comply with the terms of a community order made under section 177 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 is being monitored; and if he will make a statement.

David Hanson: The piloting of the withdrawal of benefits from unemployed offenders was thoroughly monitored and evaluated between 2001-05 and the results of this process contributed to the formal assessment of the pilots. Advice about the future of the pilots, which includes the findings of that assessment, is currently under consideration. Monitoring is therefore suspended until a decision has been made.

Prisoners

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what estimate he has made of the likely change in the number of people who will be sent to prison in the first 12 months after the abolition of suspended sentences.

David Hanson: Suspended sentences are not being abolished. Suspended sentence orders for summary-only offences are being abolished. We expect this will mean 400 offenders being given alternative non-custodial penalties over the next two years.

Prisoners: Illegal Immigrants

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many  (a) illegal immigrants and  (b) failed asylum seekers were serving custodial sentences in UK prisons in each of the last 10 years; and what proportion of the prison population these figures represented;
	(2)  how many and what proportion of offenders convicted for  (a) violent offences and  (b) all offences were (i) illegal immigrants and (ii) failed asylum seekers in each of the last 10 years.

David Hanson: Information on the number of illegal immigrants who are held in custody is not held centrally and would involve detailed cross referencing of BIA case files with Prison Service records to ensure accuracy. As a result, the information required to answer this question cannot be obtained without incurring disproportionate cost.
	Regarding failed asylum seekers serving custodial sentences, I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given to the hon. Member for South Holland and the Deepings (Mr. Hayes) on 27 November 2007,  Official Report, column 300W.

Prisoners: Sexual Offences

Rudi Vis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many allegations of prisoners being  (a) raped and  (b) sexually assaulted have been received by the Prison Service in each of the last five years.

Maria Eagle: Rape is a legal term dependent on conviction and this information is not held centrally.
	The Prison Service Incident Reporting System (IRS) collects information supplied by prisons on the reported numbers of sexual assaults. At any one time the system will include some proven and unproven allegations; some of the latter are removed/reclassified at a later date. The system provides a useful indicator, but the numbers should not be treated as absolute. It is not possible to separate incidents of sexual assault from allegations.
	The numbers of sexual assaults reported through IRS are shown in the following table.
	
		
			   Prisoner on prisoner sexual assaults 
			 2002 112 
			 2003 92 
			 2004 102 
			 2005 87 
			 2006 93

Prisons

Rudi Vis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many sentenced receptions in prisons in England and Wales were for  (a) less than one month,  (b) between one and three months,  (c) between three and six months and  (d) between six and 12 months in each of the last five years.

David Hanson: The following table shows the number of sentenced receptions into prisons in England and Wales by sentence length band from 2002 to 2006.
	
		
			   2002  2003  2004  2005  2006 
			 Less than or equal to 1 month 7,367 7,227 8,307 8,056 7,398 
			 Greater than 1 month and less than or equal to 3 months 18,576 17,901 17,968 17,720 16,779 
			 Greater than 3 months and less than or equal to 6 months 26,743 27,730 27,401 26,042 24,747 
			 Greater than 6 months and less than 12 months 8,075 7,954 7,993 7,983 8,370 
		
	
	These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems, which, as with any large-scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.

Prisons

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what evaluation he has made of the effectiveness of prison based cognitive behavioural treatment programmes on reconviction rates.

David Hanson: There is considerable international evidence to support the effectiveness of cognitive behavioural treatment programmes in reducing reoffending. These research findings are based on systematic reviews which draw together all the available, high quality evidence in the field. Two of the more recent reviews were published within the last two years (Wilson et al., 2005; Washington State Institute for Public Policy, 2006).
	UK research examining the effectiveness of cognitive behavioural programmes in prisons is limited and has produced mixed results (Friendship et al, 2002; Falshaw et al, 2003; Cann et al, 2003). These findings may be due to implementation failure or the research designs used which makes it difficult to attribute the outcomes directly to the impact of the intervention (Debidin, M. and Lovbakke, J, 2004). However, a qualitative study conducted in the UK in 2004 examined the programme experience of prisoners completing cognitive skills training (Clarke et al, 2004). Both prisoners and staff reported short-term benefits for prisoners such as improved prisoner behaviour; increased self-confidence; enhanced literacy skills and better interpersonal skills. Completion of cognitive skills also helped to prepare prisoners for other offending behaviour programmes.
	The current RDS NOMS programme also includes further research on the effectiveness of other cognitive behavioural programmes based on rigorous research designs.

Secure Training Centre: Restraint Techniques

Rudi Vis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many times handcuffs have been used on  (a) boys and  (b) girls in each secure training centre since January 2006.

David Hanson: The following table shows the use of handcuffs in secure training centres during the period January 2006 to October 2007 (the latest month for which figures are available). The figures were provided by the Youth Justice Board.
	
		
			   Male  Female 
			 Hassockfield 30 15 
			 Oakhill 4 5 
			 Rainsbrook(1) 0 0 
			 Medway(1) 0 0 
			 (1 )Rainsbrook and Medway do not use handcuffs.

Young Offender Institutions

Rudi Vis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether food served in young offender institutions and secure training centres complies with the nutritional standards delivered in schools; and what arrangements are in place to monitor compliance with such standards.

David Hanson: The Department for Children, Schools and Families does not treat educational facilities in secure establishments as schools and as such school standards do not apply within either young offender institutions or secure training centres.
	However, secure training centres and young offender institutions are contractually required by the Youth Justice Board and the Prison Service to provide a varied and healthy menu which complies with relevant food safety legislation. Standards are assessed through regular independent inspections. They are also assessed internally on a daily basis by senior management in young offender institutions and qualified catering staff in secure training centres. The Youth Justice Board monitors meal plans in secure training centres over a period of time to assess nutritional standards and can request that reasonable changes are made to the meals provided.

Young Offender Institutions: Injuries

Rudi Vis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what injuries were incurred by boys held in  (a) Parc,  (b) Lancaster Farms,  (c) Warren Hill,  (d) Thorn Cross and  (e) Stoke Heath Young Offender Institutions during control and restraint in each month in (i) 2006 and (ii) 2007.

David Hanson: The information for Lancaster Farms, Warren Hill, Stoke Heath and Par is set out in the following table. No young people were injured during control and restraint at Thorn Cross during this period.
	
		
			   Lancaster Farms  Warren Hill  Stoke Heath  Parc 
			  
			 January 2006 0 0 Redness to bridge of nose Redness to both wrists 
			Slightly reddened right wrist Redness to left wrist 
			Reddened wrists, several red areas over back and chest  
			Cut to inner mouth  
			Redness to both wrists  
			General redness to both wrists  
			  
			 February 2006 0 0 Both wrists reddened Red and swollen right knuckle 
			Both wrists reddened, superficial scratch  
			Left wrist swelling  
			Red to wrists  
			Redness to both wrists  
			Left wrist red, swollen and tender  
			Redness to both wrists  
			 March 2006 0 0 Painful left wrist Redness to both arms 
			Painful left wrist Bleeding from nose or mouth 
			Both wrists reddened  
			Stiffness in left wrist Red marks to left wrist 
			Both wrists red  
			Friction scratches to wrist  
			  
			 April 2006 0 0 Slight redness to top of neck 0 
			Redness to back of neck and both forearms  
			 May 2006 0 0 Both wrists slightly red Grazes to left eyebrow and left cheekbone 
			 June 2006 0 0 Two red marks on upper back Soreness to left wrist 
			Slight redness to thumb Redness to left wrist 
			Graze to left upper back  
			Redness to both wrists  
			Redness to left wrist  
			Abrasion to left shoulder, bruise to right side of temple  
			  
			 July 2006 0 0 Redness to back and face 0 
			Injury to wrist  
			Painful right shoulder  
			Right wrist painful  
			 August 2006 0 Cut lip Slight redness to left wrist 0 
			  
			 September 2006 0 0 0 Pain and discomfort to left arm, no treatment required. 
			  
			 October 2006 0 0 0 0 
			 November 2006 0 0 Reddening to both wrists Red marks to right cheek, abrasions to left chest wall, scratches to left shoulder, redness to upper body. 
			Redness to both wrist areas  
			  
			 December 2006 Fracture to left shoulder 0 0 0 
			  Fracture to right arm
			  
			 January 2007 0 Graze to right hand Sore left arm Pain and discomfort to right arm, no treatment required 
			  
			 February 2007 0 0 Sore wrists Redness to both wrists 
			Sore wrists  
			Red marks to both wrists Red nose, scratches to left elbow, swelling to right wrist, redness to both arms 
			  
			Red marks to both wrists  
			  
			Sore wrists  
			  
			 March 2007 0 Lump above right eye Bleeding nose 0 
			  
			 April 2007 Dislocation of wrist Cut to forehead Marks on left hand Pains to both wrists 
			Redness to left wrist Red marks to both arms 
			Redness to right hand  
			  
			 May 2007 0 0 Superficial scratches to left forearm 0 
			Redness to both wrists  
			Small scratches to left temple  
			Red marks to both wrists  
			Small cut to right finger, small graze to right forearm and red wrists  
			  
			 June 2007 0 0 Circular red marks to both wrists Red marks to left wrist 
			 Redness to both arms 
			  
			 July 2007 0 0 Both wrists red, graze to left wrist Redness to both wrists and knuckles 
			Bleeding nose Graze to right arm 
			  
			 August 2007 0 0 Graze to right arm Redness to both wrists 
			Grazes to both elbows Redness to right hand 
			Graze to right cheek  
			Small scratch to forehead  
			Pain in left elbow  
			Redness, small graze under chin  
			Pain in right finger (old fracture)  
			  
			 September 2007 0 0 Cuts to left elbow, painful right wrist 0 
			Cut to fourth right finger  
			Cut to forehead, cut to palm of left hand  
			Graze to lower lip, redness to right shoulder, redness to back of neck  
			  
			 October 2007 0 0 Sore wrist Redness to left wrist, red mark to left side of forehead 
			Bruising to right clavicle, pain in right wrist  
			  
			 November 2007 Two bumps to head 0 No data available Redness to both arms 
			 Graze to right knuckle

Young Offenders: Learning Disability

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what estimate he has made of the proportion of young offenders who have significant communication difficulties which prevent them from engaging in educational programmes.

Ivan Lewis: I have been asked to reply.
	This information is not available centrally.
	Research conducted by Professor Karen Bryan in partnership with HM Prison Service (University of Surrey 2004) found that 60 per cent. of young offenders screened on entering custody were identified as having difficulties with speech, language and communication.
	All young offenders receive health screening on reception into prison and in addition will be screened for their educational needs. A general learning needs induction and assessment process is used to help identify learning difficulties and disabilities. As part of this process, education staff are expected to identify concerns about a prisoner's speech and language capability. Where such problems are identified, either as a result of the health screen or the education screen, a referral to an appropriate health professional would be expected.
	All young people in custody are required by the Youth Justice Board to participate in education and training. Teaching professionals work with young offenders in small classes to help ensure they receive education which meets their personal needs. Special educational needs coordinators are employed in each young offender institution to assist in meeting the personal needs of young people and to help them get the most from their education in custody.